PANAJI
The Opposition was on Monday left in the cold with its demand for adding a day exclusively for discussion of the vexed Mhadei issue rejected by the government at the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting held on Monday.
The BAC meeting chaired by Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar was called to consider the business to be transacted during the 4-day winter session of the Goa legislative assembly slated to begin on January 16.
Leader of the Opposition, Yuri Alemao had on Monday morning met Tawadkar and demanded in writing that the session be extended by a day to accommodate a day-long discussion on the Mhadei issue and also private members' business.
In addition to the Speaker who chairs it, the BAC comprises eight other members -- Chief Minsiter Pramod Sawant, Opposition Leader Yuri Alemao, Legislative Affairs Minister Nilesh Cabral, Power Minister Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavlikar (MGP), Deputy Speaker Joshua D'Souza, Venzy Viegas (AAP), Vijai Sardesai (GFP) and Viresh Borkar (RGP).
Later, speaking to the media after the meet, AAP's Viegas said there is no change in the attitude of the government of bulldozing its agenda.
He said, the Opposition is demanding that the one-day discussion should be in addition to the four days business. By extending the session by a day, you can have the discussion on Mhadei and also restore the private members business, he added.
"They are trying to have the discussion on the last day. Which means all the business which was to be held on that day will now be cramped into the agenda in the previous two days," Viegas said.
