the goan I network
MAPUSA
The Congress-led opposition on Thursday refused to allow smooth functioning of the House in the current Assembly session unless the BJP spokesman who filed a false complaint with the police against Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte was arrested.
Incidentally, February 7 is the last day of the Assembly session.
Criticising the arrest of Porvorim MLA, Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat said the Speaker after receiving the complaint should have sought a report of the incident, before taking a decision in the matter.
“The arrest of Khaunte on frivolous charge clearly shows that this government is frustrated. Our demand is to arrest the person who gave a false complaint to the police. Till then, we will not allow the House to function,” said Kamat, while addressing a joint news conference with all 10 opposition MLAs in the opposition lobby.
Goa Forward Party chief and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai informed that the opposition has verbally lodged a complaint before Speaker Rajesh Patnekar that a false complaint was filed against the MLA.
“It’s obvious the Speaker is acting under pressure. He should have sought a report of the complaint. The Speaker is the guardian of the House,” Sardesai said.
Acting on a complaint of assault by BJP spokesman, Premanand Mahambre, police swooped down on the bungalow of Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte and arrested him in the wee hours of Thursday.
In his complaint, Mahambre said the Porvorim MLA threatened and twisted his hand in the precincts of the Assembly on Wednesday evening.
“The midnight knock will be a phenomenon in future. If a MLA can be subjected to such torment, one can imagine what a common man can face,” the Fatorda MLA said.
Former chief minister and Poriem MLA Pratapsingh Rane said he and Khaunte “walked together” when the incident happened and the concocted complaint should have never been entertained.
“This is not a gestapo raj. You cannot give a false complaint and then arrest a person on false charges,” Rane said.
Terming the arrest of Porvorim MLA as a black day in democracy, MGP leader and Marcaim MLA Sudin Dhavalikar called for immediate arrest of the complainant. “The person who has given a bogus complaint should be arrested and a written apology should be taken from him,” Dhavalikar said.
Censuring the arrest of the MLA in the wee hours, Congress MLA Luizinho Faleiro said the modus operandi used by the government was shameful. “People are watching. A private individual is used to file a bogus complaint. I don’t think there is any such precedent in the country and even in other democracies in the world,” Faleiro said. He said it was contempt of the House and the person used to file the complaint should be arrested.
Congress MLA from Curtorim Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco also spoke.
The opposition comprising five Congress, three of Goa Forward Party and one each of MGP and Independent MLA were present.Goa being turned into UP: Khaunte
MAPUSA: Stating his arrest was carried out in high drama, Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte said the government was planning to convert Goa into another Uttar Pradesh by creating an environment of fear in the State.
“The police came to my house and started banging the doors at 1 am on Thursday to pick me up. They are using fear tactic like in Uttar Pradesh. Goa will soon become another UP,” Khaunte said.
He said the complaint against him was false and further alleged that the chief minister was using his cronies to hide from his inefficiency in the House.
“Congress MLA Pratapsingh Rane and I were walking together when we met Premanand Mahambre in the Assembly. I just exchanged a few words with Mahambre,” the Porvorim MLA said.
