Oppn MLAs boycott training workshop calling it RSS-tinted

PANJIM: The MLAs from the Opposition parties on Monday boycotted two-day training and orientation workshop organised for all the legislators by the Goa Legislature Department. 

The legislators from Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Goa Forward Party and  Revolutionary Goans boycotted the session protesting against the Goa Legislative Department’s move to hold it in a city-based five-star hotel, rather than conducting it within the Goa Legislative Assembly Complex, Porvorim. 

Leader of the Opposition Michael Lobo attended the inaugural event, only to declare that the united opposition has decided to boycott the session and urged Legislature Department to ensure that such events are held on the Assembly premises only, in future. 

The orientation session, inaugurated in presence of Himachal Pradesh Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Goa Assembly Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar and Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, is being conducted by the Pune-based Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini. 

”Congress MLAs, as well as the Opposition, decided to boycott the session as it is unwarranted to have it in a starred hotel when State is reeling under financial crisis. The spending was done through funds from the Legislature Department. Goa has one of the best legislature complexes. The workshop should have been conducted there,” Lobo, who left post-inaugural, said. 

On the other hand, AAP MLA Venzy Viegas said that the organisation chosen to provide the training is a propaganda agency of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and it was wrong of the Legislature Department to allow an ideologically biased outfit to be involved in such an important session. 

“There was no need to engage the RSS-mentored Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini to conduct the session when staff in the Legislative Department is well trained for the purpose,” he said.

The AAP legislator also criticised the expenditure questioning why the programme was held in a five-star resort when the State has a well-equipped Assembly Complex. Out of 40 MLAs, there are around 19 first-time legislators in this Goa Legislative Assembly.  It is learnt that most of the opposition MLAs boycotted the workshop calling it an RSS-tainted MLAs workshop.

Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on a lighter note said, “It is good to have a changing environment for MLAs”. 

He also said that there is a wrong notion that Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini is engaged by BJP, but the agency has also trained MLAs from non-BJP-ruled States like Maharashtra, apart from holding orientations for MPs and councillors.