MAPUSA
The last day of the monsoon session of the State Legislative Assembly witnessed pandemonium and adjournment on Friday, as an unrelenting opposition rushed to the well of the House opposing the government request to postpone a question on coal block allocation.
When Industries Minister Vishwajit Rane sought to postpone the question on the status of the coal block allotted by the Centre to Goa, the opposition MLAs objected to the postponement stating that the question was earlier postponed by the government.
The opposition also alleged that the government was involved in a multi-crore coal block allocation scam and therefore was running away from scrutiny.
“Why do you want to postpone the question for the second time? Who are you scared of?” said Vijai Sardessai, Fatorda MLA and Goa Forward Party chief.
Quoting rules 46, 49 (2) and 43 from the rules of procedure and conduct of business of the Goa Legislative Assembly, Sardesai said the minister cannot postpone the question and threatened to move a Breach of Privilege motion on the issue.
“We will also move the court against the government for postponing the question,” he said. The industries minister told the House that the question was sought to be postponed under Rule 49 (2) of the Assembly.
Porvorim MLA, Rohan Khaunte, alleged that the government was involved in Rs 1000 crore scam in the coal bock allocation and was therefore shying away from answering the question.
He further alleged that that consultant appointed for the coal block by the State government has been blacklisted in an inquiry conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
According to the Leader of Opposition, the question could have been deferred had the reply not been circulated.
“Since the reply was circulated on Thursday it cannot be postponed. Even the reply cannot be withdrawn now because it is public property,” Kamat said. Amidst the ruckus, Speaker Rajesh Patnekar allowed postponement of the question and called for the next question in the list.
The agitated opposition MLAs rushed to the well of the House opposing the move resulting in chaos in the House.
Following the pandemonium, Speaker Rajesh Patnekar adjourned the House till 1 pm thereby erasing the entire morning session.
