Speaker Ganesh Gaonkar during proceedings of the Goa Legislative Assembly on Monday.
PANAJI
Goa Legislative Assembly Speaker Ganesh Gaonkar on Monday directed the State government to take appropriate action to prevent incidents that disturb the proceedings of the House and to preserve the dignity and decorum of the Assembly, following a protest in the visitors’ gallery over the Mirabag bandhara project on March 6.
The speaker also extended the restrictions on the entry of the protesters, involved in raising slogans and displaying posters from the visitors’ gallery, until further orders, even as he accepted the unconditional apology tendered by MLA Vijai Sardesai — who was accused of orchestrating the entire incident.
Making a statement in the House, Gaonkar recalled that on March 6, four persons seated in the visitors’ gallery raised slogans and displayed posters protesting against the Mirabag bandhara project, thereby disrupting the proceedings of the Assembly. He said the act had affected the dignity and decorum of the House and was viewed with utmost seriousness by the Chair.
The Speaker observed that actions carried out within the precincts of the Assembly that interfere with its functioning have the potential to amount to breach of privilege and contempt of the House.
Gaonkar said he had held consultations with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who also holds the Home portfolio, and asked the government to examine the matter in its entirety and take appropriate action to ensure such incidents do not recur in future. “In this regard, the chair held the consultation with the CM, who also holds the Home portfolio, to examine the matter in its entirety and to ensure an appropriate course of action is taken in the larger interest of preserving the dignity and decorum of this house while upholding the democratic values,” he said.
The Chair also informed the House that he has accepted the unconditional apology tendered by Sardesai in connection with the incident.
However, the Speaker clarified that the restrictions imposed on the entry of the four persons involved in the protest into the premises of the Assembly would continue until further notice.
He expressed hope that the decision would serve as a reminder that the sanctity and decorum of the Assembly must always be respected. All four accused, against whom an FIR was filed, are currently out on bail.
