THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
Congressmen from Margao led by Savio Coutinho on Tuesday presented a memorandum to GPCC President Amit Patkar and Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao with a request to move a Private Member Bill through the Leader of Opposition/Congress Party MLA or any India Alliance MLA pertaining to the Amendment to the Xth Schedule of the Constitution.
Coutinho pointed out that then Opposition Leader Digambar Kamat had moved a Private Members Bill during the Legislative Assembly Session in July 2021, seeking a Resolution requesting the Central Government to bring about appropriate changes to the Xth Schedule of the Constitution so as to put a halt to the rampant defection of MLAs from the party they are elected, to a different party for their greed and selfish interests.
“Astonishingly though, Digambar Kamat himself became the captain of an eight MLA team to jump from Congress to the BJP", Congressmen pointed out. “Probably, if the Bill had to be passed, Kamat on moral grounds would not have defected, they said in their representation.
The congressmen expressed confidence that since Kamat has joined the ruling party, which has an overwhelming majority, he will be able to convince his "new team" to support the Bill seeking amendment to the Xth Schedule of the Constitution of India with respect to defections, the representation reads.
"Furthermore, this Bill will be beneficial to the ruling side in majority as well, considering the threat of defections to topple the government, Coutinho said sarcastically. “But, the primary interest of all Congressmen and Goans at large is that this defector should not have re-entry into the Congress party via fresh round of defection, he added.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao said he had brought a similar Bill in the House at one of the Assembly sessions, but a resolution to that effect was not passed. “I will see that the Bill proposed by the Congress will be brought in the Assembly, he assured.
