SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: As the Budget session of the State Legislative Assembly coincides with the Holy week, Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has extended the seating of the House by two days- from March 24 to April 16, with a holiday on Maundy Thursday, April 1.
The Governor had earlier summoned the Budget session from March 24 to April 12, with two public holidays in between aside from the weekends.
The revised schedule of the Assembly has been issued after Opposition, particularly Congress, objected to conduct of the session in the Holy Week, which starts from March 28 leading to Holy Maundy Thursday (Last Supper of Jesus Christ on April 1), The Good Friday on April 2 and culminates on Easter Sunday on April 4.
The House will not have sitting on March 29, on account of Holi, April 1 being Maundy Thursday and April 2, which is Good Friday. The total sitting of the House is for 13 days.
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant will present the last State Budget 2021-22, of his government, during the session.
The State legislative Assembly had met only seven days in 2020 on account of COVID-19 pandemic, while in the current year, it has met so far only for five-days.
Though, the Leader of Opposition Diagmbar Kamat, who was the first to raise objection to summoning of the session during the Holy Week, has welcomed the move, still demands that Government should hold a full-fledged 21 days session.
“After my strong objection to Goa Legislative Assembly session, schedule coinciding with Holy Week, the Government now declares holiday on Maundy Thursday and extends working of the House by one day,” Kamat said.
“However, we reiterate demand for holding full-fledged 21-working days session,” he added.
