PORVORIM: The no confidence motion moved against the Laxmikant Parsekar government was defeated on the Floor of the House on Friday by 14 votes to 25 votes. Interestingly, both Goa Vikas Party MLAs – Francisco (Mickky) Pacheco and Caetano (Caitu) Silva – who had supported the BJP government when it was formed in 2012, voted against the government.
Twelve opposition members, led by Leader of Opposition Pratapsingh Rane, had moved the no confidence motion against the council of ministers for their series of failures and U-turns. The motion was backed by independent MLAs Vijai Sardesai, Rohan Khaunte and Naresh Sawal and unattached MLA Atanasio Monserrate.
Silva and Congress MLA Mauvin Godinho, who had not signed the motion moved last week, voted in support of it on Friday.
Supporting the motion, Rane said the State government is being run from Delhi through phone calls. “The State runs through a remote from Delhi. One phone call decides all actions of the government,” he alleged.
He spelt out the election promises made by the BJP in their 2012 poll manifesto, including scrapping of Regional Plan 2021 and drafting a new plan, amicable solution on medium of instruction, unemployment allowance, special status, welfare funds for tribals, etc. “The government has not managed to fulfill any major promise from the manifesto. This is an anti-people and anti-farmer government,” he charged.
Pointing to the recent Supreme Court judgment on mining in the case of Talulikar and Sons, Rane said there is no possibility that iron ore activities will resume this year. “The Apex court order will have direct impact on nearly 40 leases,” he stated.
Participating in the discussion, Pacheco said that his party supported the government as it had promised to bring in change but nothing of that sort happened. “Government spoke about mining loot but till date there is neither recovery nor any action against anyone. You also spoke to resolve the MoI issue but gave no relief to the people,” he said adding that despite passing a resolution on the Floor of the House for granting Special Status to Goa, the government took no initiative in that area.
Sardesai and Khuante informed the House how the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) castigated the government on the mess in the GMC, unwanted expenditure, certifying the allegations levied by the opposition. “The people of Goa have lost confidence in the government and its result will be seen during the 2017 polls,” Sardesai said charging the government of becoming defenders of the casino lobby, agents of industries, contractors of mining lobbies and protectors of drug peddlers.
Opposing the motion, the ruling benches rubbished the allegations stating the government is working for the welfare of the common man and towards the State’s progress and growth. “The no confidence motion is nothing but a publicity stunt. It is just a show for media hype,” Parsekar said, adding that the BJP-led government has reached out to every section of society through its welfare schemes.
“Let at least one family tell me that they have not benefited from government schemes,” the Chief Minister said informing the House about the schemes introduced.
Referring to the CAG report, Parsekar said the report will be placed before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chaired by the Leader of the Opposition, for study and recommendations to the government.
From the treasury benches Ministers Ramakrishna Dhavalikar, Deputy Speaker Vishnu Wagh, MLAs Dr Pramod Sawant, Nilesh Cabral, Siddharath Kuncolienkar and Subhash Faldessai spoke opposing the motion.
