Team Herald
Panjim: The Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu, will felicitate four former legislators and one sitting MLA, during his visit to the Goa legislative Assembly as part of the ‘Legislator’s Day’ event on January 9.
Addressing media persons on Wednesday, Legislative Assembly Speaker Rajesh Patnekar announced that the Vice President will be on a ten-day visit to Goa.
Patnekar added that the Vice President has been invited to address legislators this year, as part of the 60th anniversary celebration of Goa’s liberation from Portuguese rule in 1961.
Those who will be felicitated by Naidu are former Union Minister of State for External Affairs Eduardo Faleiro, former Chief Minister and sitting Congress MLA Pratapsingh Rane, former MLAs Rohidas Naik, Chandrakant Chodankar and Anil Prabhudesai.
“We have shortlisted five legislators who have contributed to the State in their stints as MLAs,” said Patnekar.
He further added that three more legislators, who would be presented mementos.
The first assembly of liberated Goa was convened on January 9, 1964 in the old Secretariat building. Hence, since then, the day is marked as “Legislator’s Day” every year.
Speaking about the upcoming winter session of the state legislative assembly, Patnekar said that the session would begin on January 25 with the inaugural address by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari.
He said that a total of 751 starred and unstarred questions have been received, of which 195 are starred questions while 556 are unstarred. The Speaker added that the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) will meet shortly to decide the Business of the House.
He added that it is more likely that the visitor’s gallery will be thrown open for the public.
“However, the final decision will be taken by the BAC,” Patnekar said.
When asked about the status of disqualification petition of ten former Congress MLAs, Patnekar, refused to comment stating that the matter is in the Supreme Court.
