MAPUSA
The first day of the monsoon session of the State Legislative Assembly got off to a cracker of a start on Tuesday morning with the 7-member Opposition creating a ruckus and rushing to the well of the House while demanding discussion on collapse of Kala Academy slab but it also exposed the chinks in the Opposition unity.
Before the start of the morning session, Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai moved an adjournment motion demanding to hold a discussion on the Kala Academy slab collapse issue.
Soon after the national anthem, the three Congress legislators, two AAP MLAs and the lone MLA of Goa Forward Party held placards in the House protesting against the slab collapse even as they vociferously demanded suspension of the Question Hour and discussion on the crucial issue.
Refusing to give in to the Opposition demand, the Speaker told the protesting MLAs that he has rejected the adjournment motion and requested to continue with the Question Hour.
But a defiant Opposition rushed to the well of the House and demanded nothing short of discussion over Kala Academy.
“What has happened in Kala Academy is for the first time in Goa. There is big corruption in the works. We need to have a discussion on priority,” Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said.
Amidst the din, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assured to make a statement in the matter after the Question Hour. But the Opposition did not relent and continued to create a noise in the House forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House for half an hour.
When the House reassembled again, the Opposition unity or rather its absence was exposed as Goa Forward MLA Vijai Sardesai was found alone protesting in the well of the House while the Congress MLAs including the Leader of Opposition stood next to their chairs.
The lone Revolutionary Goans Party MLA, Viresh Borkar began reading his question and a discussion ensued on the issue of encroachment in housing board property. Soon Zero Hour followed.
