THE GOAN NETWORK
BICHOLIM: Insisting that the assembly session should be at least 15 days in duration to discuss all pressing issues, the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) has expressed anguish over the curtailed three-day assembly session and had planned to grill the government during the session.
At a CLP meeting in Mulgao-Bicholim, the Congress discussed the ongoing political situation and were unanimous that the assembly session should have a minimum duration of 15 days to discuss all issues.
Stating this at a news conference in the presence of Congress legislators and GPCC President Girish Chodankar after the meeting, Opposition Leader Chandrakant Kavlekar accused the BJP-led State government of taking Goans for granted by taking decisions against the interest of common people.
Explaining the purpose of convening the CLP meet in Bicholim taluka, Kavlekar said: “This is the first time the party has organised a CLP meet in a rural area, because we thought such meetings would help us address problems in rural areas.”
“By deciding to have only a three-day assembly session, the ruling party is running away as it cannot answer issues pertaining to development.”
“The BJP should not assume that by constructing the third Mandovi bridge it has done everything. The three ruling party MPs and the union mines minister have totally failed in resolving the mining issue in Goa, leaving about 3 lakh mining dependents in distress.”
Accusing the BJP of not having undertaken any major initiative since the last two years, Kavlekar said the ruling party was now making attempts to seek votes by giving hollow assurances.
“The session should have been for at least 15 days to discuss the failure of the BJP-led government. Instead, by curtailing the assembly session to merely three days, the BJP has been exposed,” said Kavlekar.
Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginald Lourenco said there are several issues like mining, CRZ, garbage and tourism which could not be discussed in barely three days.
“We feel the government is working in a dictatorial manner, but we will not allow it to do whatever it wants,” warned Reginald.
Chodankar said two former MLAs who had joined the BJP are now repenting their decision as they are aware that the Congress would win both the Mandrem and Shiroda seats.
Asked if there was a possibility of former CM and BJP leader Laxmikant Parsekar joining the Congress, Chodankar said: “We are open to all alternatives.”
Tivim MLA Nilkanth Halarnkar said the BJP had lied to the people of Goa on all counts and the voters would teach them a lesson.
MLAs Digambar Kamat, Ravi Naik, Filipe Neri Rodrigues, Tony Fernandes, Jennifer Monserrate, Wilfred D’Sa, Clafacio Dias and others also accused the BJP of various failings.
Earlier, block presidents, Anand Naik and Meghshyam Raut welcomed the Congress leaders to Bicholim and requested them to raise their voice on the mining issue in the assembly session.
