PANAJI
Opposition MLAs staged a walkout from the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting of the Goa Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, accusing the BJP government of stifling dissent and calling the move a “murder of democracy.”
The meeting was convened to finalise the agenda for the 15-day monsoon session starting July 21. Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, along with Vijai Sardesai (GFP), Venzy Viegas (AAP) and Viresh Borkar (GRP), exited the meeting in protest over what they called an attempt to “systematically curtail the Opposition’s voice.”
The MLAs objected to the decision granting each party only 20 minutes to speak during the crucial Demand for Grants discussion, saying this severely limited their ability to raise issues like corruption, law and order, and public welfare.
“This is a murder of democracy…a dark day,” Alemao said. “After cutting short the Assembly session, they are now restricting our right”people’s right”to question the government. If you won’t allow the Opposition to speak, why even hold a session?”
He also alleged that Opposition questions, including unstarred ones (which aren’t debated but are supposed to be answered), were being disallowed.
Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar defended the time allocation, saying it was intended to ensure daily proceedings end by 8.30 pm. He claimed the Opposition walked out only after the business discussion was concluded.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant declined to comment, saying the matter was the Speaker’s prerogative.
GFP MLA Vijai Sardesai said the government did not want the Opposition to highlight public grievances. “We’ve travelled across Goa listening to people’s issues. The government doesn’t want us to raise them. But I will continue to fight for the people,” he said.
AAP MLA Venzy Viegas said that the government is just not ready to listen to the demands of the Opposition. He said that the government has failed to perform in the 33 constituencies, where they have got their own MLAs. “That is the reason why you see so many questions being put up by the ruling MLAs. So let the government handle their issues first,” he said.
The MLA said that the Opposition will not attend future BAC meetings as they are fed up with dictatorial governance.
GRP MLA Viresh Borkar called the government’s approach “complete dictatorship.”
