CANACONA
Accusing Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar of being biased by curtailing the Assembly Session to only four days as against his earlier assurance to hold a session for a minimum of a week, Goa Forward Party Chief Vijay Sardesai asked journalists in Canacona to organise a mock assembly session in Canacona.
The Fatorda MLA was speaking at the Canacona Patrakar Sangh (CPS) annual function in Canacona, in the presence of Quepem MLA Altone D'Costa, St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar, former minister Isidore Fernandes and others.
Incidentally, Tawadkar who was supposed to be the chief guest at the function but had to rush to New Delhi on Friday night, while Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao and AAP MLA Capt. Venzy Viegas could not make it to the function.
In his speech, Sardesai highlighted the absence of Speaker at the function in his own constituency and blamed him for denying opposition MLAs the right to raise and present issues in the Goa Assembly by curtailing the session to just four days.
“The speaker should remain independent, but the present Speaker is not; he acts and behaves on the dictates of the chief minister and the government of the day.”
“The speaker had, in the past, stated that a minimum of a week-long assembly session will be held, but an order has come to hold just four days of the assembly session, of which one day is lost for customary activities, leaving just 3 days in reality for the session. This will give no time for members to either speak or present their say.”
“In fact, the Canacona Patrakar Sangh should hold a Mock Assembly Session in Canacona, and invite MLAs like me and others on the home ground of the Speaker. This would expose the Speaker’s duplicity of choking opposition voices,” said Sardesai.
St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar said injustices by the government should be effectively highlighted by rural journalists.
Quepem MLA Altone D'Costa claimed it was only because of rural journalists that the government was forced to come to the rescue of villagers.
Presiding over the function, CMC Chairperson Ramakant Naikgaunkar advised reporters to understand both sides of the matter, to ensure injustice is not done to anyone.
Former minister Isidore Fernandes asked CPS to follow-up with the government on his provision to make available a separate room for Canacona Patrakar Sangh at the Ravindra Bhavan project under construction.
On the occasion, Prasad Naikgaunkar (PRO at GMC Bambolim), Progressive Farmer Prakash Dessai, Ulhas Gaonkar, Canacona Municipal Staff Vijay Kumar Gayak, top scorer at NIT examination Arya Prabhugaongkar, a Blind Youth Enterpreneur Ankur Kankonkar, Self Help Group President Sandhya (Sneha) Dessai and journalists Bernard Fernandes (print), Ulhas Gaonkar and Dhiraj Kankonkar (electronic) were felicitated.
Awards and prizes were also given away for short-film and news/report writing competitions.
Earlier, a cultural programme was presented including welcome song by students of Shri Mallikarjun Vidyalaya, Gayan by Subhash Komarpant, dances by Delisha Fernandes, Evidel Fernandes and Samruddhi Komarpant, Dovli Dance by Shram-Devi Self Help Group.
The Fatorda MLA was speaking at the Canacona Patrakar Sangh (CPS) annual function in Canacona, in the presence of Quepem MLA Altone D'Costa, St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar, former minister Isidore Fernandes and others.
Incidentally, Tawadkar who was supposed to be the chief guest at the function but had to rush to New Delhi on Friday night, while Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao and AAP MLA Capt. Venzy Viegas could not make it to the function.
In his speech, Sardesai highlighted the absence of Speaker at the function in his own constituency and blamed him for denying opposition MLAs the right to raise and present issues in the Goa Assembly by curtailing the session to just four days.
“The speaker should remain independent, but the present Speaker is not; he acts and behaves on the dictates of the chief minister and the government of the day.”
“The speaker had, in the past, stated that a minimum of a week-long assembly session will be held, but an order has come to hold just four days of the assembly session, of which one day is lost for customary activities, leaving just 3 days in reality for the session. This will give no time for members to either speak or present their say.”
“In fact, the Canacona Patrakar Sangh should hold a Mock Assembly Session in Canacona, and invite MLAs like me and others on the home ground of the Speaker. This would expose the Speaker’s duplicity of choking opposition voices,” said Sardesai.
St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar said injustices by the government should be effectively highlighted by rural journalists.
Quepem MLA Altone D'Costa claimed it was only because of rural journalists that the government was forced to come to the rescue of villagers.
Presiding over the function, CMC Chairperson Ramakant Naikgaunkar advised reporters to understand both sides of the matter, to ensure injustice is not done to anyone.
Former minister Isidore Fernandes asked CPS to follow-up with the government on his provision to make available a separate room for Canacona Patrakar Sangh at the Ravindra Bhavan project under construction.
On the occasion, Prasad Naikgaunkar (PRO at GMC Bambolim), Progressive Farmer Prakash Dessai, Ulhas Gaonkar, Canacona Municipal Staff Vijay Kumar Gayak, top scorer at NIT examination Arya Prabhugaongkar, a Blind Youth Enterpreneur Ankur Kankonkar, Self Help Group President Sandhya (Sneha) Dessai and journalists Bernard Fernandes (print), Ulhas Gaonkar and Dhiraj Kankonkar (electronic) were felicitated.
Awards and prizes were also given away for short-film and news/report writing competitions.
Earlier, a cultural programme was presented including welcome song by students of Shri Mallikarjun Vidyalaya, Gayan by Subhash Komarpant, dances by Delisha Fernandes, Evidel Fernandes and Samruddhi Komarpant, Dovli Dance by Shram-Devi Self Help Group.
