The just concluded Legislative Assembly Sessions was marked by the absence of the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar with several assurances on the floor of the House deferred.
However the ailing CM surprised everyone on the last day of the Budget Session on Friday, when he arrived in Goa and got back to work. He held an impromptu meeting with bureaucrats at his Dona Paula residence followed that by chairing a cabinet meeting. He later he tabled the Budget after delivering a brief emotional speech. He was lauded by the legislators cutting across the party lines for his willpower and dedication to work.
In his absence during the first three days of the session, the MLA’s missed him during discussions on mining, drugs, prostitution etc.
In a two hour long discussion on a calling attention on the vexed mining issue, the legislators both ruling and opposition missed Parrikar desperately. The leader of the House Sudin Dhavalikar was not in a position to pacify the legislators, who were unanimous that mining activities should continue even after March 15, and government should take steps in that direction.
Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo, BJP MLAs Nilesh Cabral, Pravin Zhantye, Rajesh Patnekar, Miliind Naik; Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar, senior congress leader Pratapsin Rane and MGP’s Deepak Pawaskar remembered Parrikar during the debate, as mining is very close to his heart. “If Parrikar was here we would have got some concrete assurance. Once he is back he will definitely have some solution to it. But till then we all need to work out something,” Kavlekar had said.
“We pray chief minister good health and speedy recovery and in action soon so that there is some solution,” Cabral said. While Dhavalikar hinted at filing a review petition, Speaker Pramod Sawant interrupted and said that once Parrikar was back, he would hold a joint meeting and work out a solution to it
The importance of the CM’s absence was also evident when the Opposition benches virtually put the government on mat on the issue of drug nexus. In a joint starred question by legislators Clafasio Dias, Digambar Kamat, Antonio Fernandes, Wilfred D’Sa and Isidore Fernandes; the ruling benches were almost dumbstruck when the former team alleged the government was not serious in curbing the menace.
Dhavalikar began reading the written reply, actually in the name of CM, but the opposition expressed their total dissatisfaction claiming the minister was not replying to their specific queries.
The minister complained that no school responded to Goa Police’s written communication to seeking to cooperate with its mission to ensure that educational institutes and children are kept away from the menace. Kavlekar countered Dhavalikar pointing at three letters from different schools located in Cujira Complex wherein help was sought.
It was during this discussion that the Opposition, demanding appropriate reply, missed Parrikar desperately. “If the CM was here, we would have got a concrete reply,” one of the legislators had said.
Meanwhile, during reply to the motion of thanks on Governor’s address; Dhavalikar categorically ruled out to speak on the policies of the government in absence of Parrikar stating he would not like to speak on the government but will appraise house on central funding. This gave clear indication that Dhavalikar has no idea about what is happening in the government other than his own portfolios.
In the past the CM used to come to the rescue of his ministers and helped them with relevant replies. However, this short Budget session did not have his ‘protection’ with the ministers being overpowered by its opposition benches.
The Congress’ daily press briefing barring the Budget day, expressing their dissatisfaction over the discussions in the House indicated Parrikar’s absence was felt. The House missed healthy discussion on contentious subjects wherein Parrikar, who is not only ready with all facts and figures but also additional information for the knowledge of others, wasn’t present.
