PANJIM: The Congress on Sunday stated that the judgment of the High Court of Bombay at Goa with regards to disqualification of 10 MLAs, has given licence to ‘open defection’ and in future any capitalist will form political parties and get two-third MLAs without contesting elections and will take control over Goa and the nation.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) Girish Chodankar on Sunday said that basic concept of democratic process and Constitution is under attack as the interpretation by the High Court order virtually permits or legalises the ‘horse trading’ in the Assembly.
Reacting to the High Court order upholding the Goa Assembly Speaker’s order dismissing two petitions seeking disqualification of 12 MLAs who had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2019, Chodankar said that though he respected the court order, it has raised many questions and has to be answered either by the Supreme Court or the Parliament has to take a call on it.
Claiming that the Congress will never allow the wrong precedence to be set up in the country as it is not just a matter about Goa but it is all about the democratic fabric of the country based on which the governments work, he said that the party will fight against such defections and appeal against the High Court order.
Chodankar pointed out that information obtained under RTI Act from the Election Commission of India (ECI), it was clear that merger of the Congress party had not taken place and it was and is still existing in Goa. “But the High Court upholding Speaker’s order endorses the merger of Congress,” he said adding that the court order will encourage more defections and will play with the sentiments of voters, who had voted for secular ideology and the rebel MLAs joined a party which had an opposite ideology.
“This court verdict is a licence to open defection, which is very dangerous. If this order continues, then the Tenth Schedule of Constitution (Anti-Defection Act) will be called as Laws for Defections,” he said.
