PANJIM: Opposition MLAs on Monday resolved to formulate a strategy to be adopted during the budget session of the State Assembly which starts from February 2.
Speaking to mediapersons, Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao said, “We discussed unemployment, issue of Persons with Disabilities, casinos, financial health, jobs, power hike, restarting of mining activity, Mhadei water dispute, dual citizenship, Dabolim airport.
Alemao said that the opposition members have formulated a joint strategy to table questions jointly and have resolved to work together as a united opposition as done during the last session.
He said, “We have come to know that Legislature Department is planning to change some convention that happened last time. Last time it was one opposition and one ruling tabling LAQs every day. We said that if the convention is changed then we will boycott the Assembly session as we will have no chance to raise LAQs given the fact that the ruling has outnumbered opposition, which now comprises only 17 per cent in the House.”
Tuesday, January 9 is the last day for filing LAQs for the first day of the session and lots will be taken out on January 10 where we will know the intentions of the government, Alemao said.
Aldona MLA Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira said, “We discussed the floor strategy, issues to be discussed in the Assembly and taking up the questions jointly in batches.
“We also discussed Dabolim airport, Mhadei row, unemployment, etc. There is attempt to change the manner in which questions are selected. Earlier, it was like one opposition and one ruling Member raising LAQs. But now we came to know that they were trying to change the pattern. We learnt that there would be three questions for ruling and one for the opposition per day. This means we will not get a chance to ask questions at all. If the new pattern is implemented then we will boycott the session because we will get two days to reply to the Governor’s address and after that there will be just three days left. The Chief Minister is also planning to table State Budget and seek Vote on Account,” Adv Ferreira said.
Earlier, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) too discussed the issues to be raised during the upcoming session and preparation for Lok Sabha elections for both the seats.
