the goan I network
MAPUSA
The dramatic midnight arrest of Independent MLA Rohan Khaunte found a loud echo on day three of the ongoing budget session of the Goa Legislative Assembly on Thursday, in a way also removing a bit of the sheen off Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s budget presentation act. The 10 opposition MLAs led by the Congress disrupted the proceedings in protest against the arrest of Khaunte.
They forced three adjournments in the morning session.
No business whatsoever was transacted in the morning session and Sawant managed to go through with the presentation and his budget speech in the post-lunch session only after Speaker Rajesh Patnekar ordered the marshalling out of 10 opposition MLAs who kept creating a ruckus in the well of the House.
Panaji MLA Anatasio (Babush) Monserrate also read the congratulatory motion to former chief minister late Manohar Parrikar on being posthumously conferred Padma Bushan award amid the opposition din post-lunch.
In the morning, the Question and Zero Hour was washed out as a relentless opposition, donning black ribbons on their arms, rushed to the well of the House raising slogans and protesting against the arrest of the Porvorim MLA. As soon as the House assembled for the day, Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat questioned the Speaker for failing to protect the interest of the members of the House.
“The arrest of the Porvorim MLA is the most undemocratic and irresponsible act. You are our father in this House. You ought to have protected our interest. You are the keeper of the democracy,” Kamat appealed to the Speaker.
The Speaker justified his action in issuing permission for Khaunte’s arrest.
“Upon a written complaint by Premanand Mahambre, a criminal complaint was lodged against Rohan Khaunte for wrongfully restraining the complainant. Under Rule 99, a prior permission was sought as the incident happened in precincts of the House and it was granted. Rohan was arrested at 1.50 am and released on bail at 2.30 am,” Patnekar said.
The Opposition Leader informed that senior Congress MLA Pratapsingh Rane was with Khaunte when the incident happened.
“How could you issue permission without an inquiry? Rane’s statement should have been taken,” Kamat interjected.
The Speaker said he was only doing his job as per the Rules of the House. The unrelenting opposition refused to accept the statement of the Speaker and rushed to the well of the House condemning the act of arresting the MLA.
The Speaker adjourned the House without transacting a single business for half an hour till 12 noon. When the House reassembled at 12 noon, the opposition MLAs forced the Speaker to adjourn the House twice again.HOW IT HAPPENED
Upon a written complaint by Premanand Mahambre, a criminal complaint was lodged against Rohan Khaunte for wrongfully restraining the complainant
Under Rule 99, a prior permission was sought as the incident happened in precincts of the House and it was granted. Rohan was arrested at 1.50 am and released on bail at 2.30 am
Opposition Leader Kamat informed that senior Congress MLA Pratapsingh Rane was with Khaunte when the incident happened
