PANJIM: The month-long monsoon session of Goa Assembly was on Thursday curtailed to two weeks in view of ensuing general panchayat elections. The move has drawn flak from opposition parties, that have called it ‘undemocratic’.
The decision was taken at the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting held at the Goa Assembly Complex, Porvorim.
After the meeting, Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar said that the duration of the monsoon session was curtailed at the request of the government. “It was brought to our notice that the full session will not be possible as most of the government staff will be busy with the panchayat elections”, Tawadkar said, adding that there will now be only 10 business days left, including six days for discussion of the State budget.
Chief Minister PramodSawant said that the business to be conducted in the Assembly during the monsoon session would be rescheduled. “During the BAC meeting we raised the concern that it was not feasible for government staff to make preparations for both – panchayat elections along with Legislative Assembly work simultaneously. We requested the Speaker to curtail the session to two weeks and to reschedule the business to be transacted in the Assembly. The Speaker will issue a new bulletin accordingly,” Sawant said.
The Chief Minister said that during the session, the demand for grants for the current financial year will be passed. The full budget has to be passed, or else it would hamper development works in the State, he said.
Reacting to opposition members’ criticism that the 10-day session was inadequate to discuss various issues concerning the State, Sawant said that it was easy for opposition members to make demands, but for the government, it was more important to pass the budget to continue development works.
The Chief Minister said that the government had no other intention to curtail the session, other than the general panchayat elections. He also argued that in bigger States, budgets are discussed and passed during short sessions.
