Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly Dr Pramod Sawant on Friday expressed his complete displeasure over the act of Congress members to disrupt the House terming it as ‘undemocratic’.
“The act of opposition was against democracy. It was not right on part of opposition to disrupt the business of the House and not to allow its functioning. Their act was not acceptable. It was not right on part of a party, which has some senior leaders, to behave in this manner,” Speaker told media persons post House adjournment.
He said that the adjournment motion, which was moved on Thursday by the Congress party was not permitted and hence there is no question of continuing with it the next day. “Without serving any adjournment notice, they continued to disrupt the House even today (Friday) which is against the rule of House,” Speaker said.
Dr Sawant pointed out that House had permitted calling attention motion on the formalin in fish issue and Congress was given opportunity to speak. “Despite discussing on the calling attention motion, they continued to disrupt the House,” he said.
“If they (Congress) were really serious on the issue then they would have discussed it in the calling attention but they preferred not to speak and disturb the House,” he added.
Speaker said that opposition, who were demanding increase in number of days of the House, have already wasted two-days.
Responding to a question raised by Congress that they have not received the Speaker order on the adjournment motion, Dr Sawant said “once speaker said it is not permitted on the Floor of the House, I need not send it in writing again’.
Terming the opposition act of stalling the House proceedings as “cheap tactics”, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday said that government has already initiated action by banning import of fish in the State and hence there is no question of fish pollution or health problem as of now
“The noise was only for the purpose of taking cheap publicity. This is just a drama created by Congress,” Parrikar told media persons at the sidelines of the State Assembly session.
He said that one should have common-sense to understand that every day there is new business of the House and as such, Congress should have moved for yet another adjournment motion on Friday. “Yesterday it was not allowed because there was a calling attention on fish-formalin issue. They should have moved today and see,” Parrikar stated.
He said that as far as the fish issue is concerned, State government has already banned import of fish in the State. “We have already taken the action of banning fish import. Once the action is there in place there is no question of urgency,” he said.
“I am not saying that fish was polluted or something but there is no question of pollution or health problem as of now,” Chief Minister said adding that in last two-days eight trucks are sent back from the borders.
Parrikar said that on Monday he will reply in detail on the formalin in fish issue on the Floor of the House.
The Congress party on Friday accused ruling party of protecting the fish mafia, involved in importing the formalin injected fish in Goa. Addressing media persons, Congress MLA Luizinho Faleiro said that BJP led coalition government is protecting the fish mafia and hence there is no action of what-so-ever. “Why there is no action initiated against anyone? This is a crime against humanity. Why no complaint filed? Why there is no FIR or arrest?” he questioned.
“Why are trucks sent back without destroying the fish?” he questioned as he named one Ibrahim Maulanha affiliated to ruling party as the mafia of fish import.
Earlier speaking he said that Speaker Dr Pramod Sawant is misleading the House by stating that there is no adjournment motion before it. “We had put the adjournment motion yesterday under rule 68 . It is upto the Speaker of course whether to accept or not to accept the motion. Till today it is before the House and we have not seen any order disposing it. Speaker saying there is no motion before House is absolutely wrong,” Faleiro said.
Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar said that the formalin in fish issue is an serious issue concerning the health of the people. “It is not just related to Congress MLAs or 40 MLAs but it affecting the entire population,” he said.
“It is affecting the pregnant mothers…new born child …it is affecting wellness of the people…and one of the sickness which is expanding in the State is cancer and other related illness due to formalin,” he said.
Kavlekar questioned ruling benches silence on the issue. “I agree that House is stalled but it is not because of us. If Speaker had to allow our motion, the business would have taken place smoothly,” he said.
