TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The “rebellion” in the Opposition Congress Legislative Party (CLP), earlier this month against the leadership of Pratapsing Rane, has been welcomed by the senior Congress leader in a “democratic” way claiming it as “ups and downs” of politics.
“It’s kabhi khushi kabhi gam,” Rane reacted when asked about the rebellion against him wherein seven out of the party’s nine MLAs demanded his ouster. “Let them criticize…it’s democracy; and I am used to facing criticism during the 42 years of my political career,” the leader of opposition told media persons soon after CLP meeting on Wednesday.
The trigger for leadership change demand came when Rane, as a part of the Business Advisory Committee of Legislative Assembly, accepted the newly-introduced norm of allowing the legislators to table a limited number of questions in the Winter Session that concluded recently.
Except for Rane’s son Vishwajit and CLP spokesperson Alexio Reginald, all others headed by Atanasio Monserrate demanded change in leadership. All India Congress Committee Secretary A Chella Kumar was then sent to Goa to defuse the crisis.
Rane took entire criticism in a democratic manner claiming that every individual has his own ways of functioning. “I have been chief minister, Speaker of Assembly, attended so many Parliaments…I am working as per the democracy… following the democracy of developed nations where only shouting is not a way to protest,” he said.
The senior Congress leader also welcomed the criticism from his party colleagues that he has been shying away from responsibilities. “Opposition does not always mean criticizing or hitting out at the government…there are several other ways to expose them,” Rane added.
Rane said that the role of opposition is to bring into the notice of people the wrong doings of the government, while people have to judge the performance of the government. “People elected them and now let them take a call,” he added.
Out of nine, two legislators Jennifer Monserrate and Mauvin Godinho were not present for CLP meeting. Both are reportedly out of station.
In the meantime, Leader of opposition refuses to comment on arrest of Congress spokesman Sudip Tamankar claiming that “Sudip has nothing to do with CLP”. “I have no idea whether he is a spokesman of Congress, but he is not related to CLP,” Rane said asking media persons to take necessary reactions from Congress president.
Criticizing the government on agricultural issue, Rane said that BJP government has failed in encouraging people into agriculture. He said that bureaucrats are incapable of providing necessary information to the farmers and there is also lack of assistance from the government.
Rane urged the government to immediately come out with legislation on contract farming, wherein unemployed youth can be brought into agriculture, providing incentives. The issues like stray cattle menace, plot allotment under housing, resurfacing of roads, were also discussed during CLP, Rane said.
