Assembly session begins on stormy note, QH adjourned

MAPUSA
The first day of the two-day assembly session began on a stormy note leading to adjournment of the Question Hour after the Opposition protested against the government’s attempt to throttle the voice of the people by repeatedly postponing crucial questions tabled by the legislators.

Soon after the House assembled, on Monday, Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant stood up and sought postponement of the starred question on comunidade land cases tabled by Congress MLA Aleixo Reginald Lourenco.

This is for a record third time that the question has been postponed in the House.

Similarly, Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat’s question on Covid deaths and Porvorim MLA, Rohan Khaunte’s question was also postponed causing much consternation among the opposition legislators. LOP and Margao MLA, Digambar Kamat decried attempts not to answer important issues affecting the people of the State.

“My question was on Covid deaths that took place during the crucial period in the Goa Medical College and Hospital. Government has neither given a reply nor has it postponed the question,” Kamat said.

Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai and Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte also raised the pitch against the government’s attempt to postpone questions and refusal to provide answers on crucial issues.

Amidst the din, Speaker Rajesh Patnekar told the House that Health Minister, Vishwajit Rane was unwell and that he has requested his questions be postponed.

“When a minister seeks postponement under rule 49 (2) of Rules and Procedure of Conduct of Business and on the ground of health, it is not possible to collect and collate information in time as it is too detailed,” Patnekar said while giving a ruling.

But the agitated opposition MLAs were in no mood to listen. They said several important questions were postponed time and again while in some cases wrong answers were provided.

“My question on comunidade is being postponed time and again. I have been raising the issue because there are several issues and scams in the functioning of the comunidades,” said Regnialdo Lourenco.

An agitated Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardessai rushed to the well of the House questioning the Speaker why the government was shying away from answering questions. He was closely followed by LOP, Digambar Kamat, Saligao MLA, Jayesh Salgaonkar and Siolim MLA Vinoda Paliencar.

Sensing the mood of the opposition, Speaker, Rajesh Patnekar adjourned the House for one hour thereby robbing the entire session of Question Hour.