Team Herald
MARGAO: Goa Forward Party President Vijai Sardessai lamented that the Speaker Rajesh Patnekar wasted a golden opportunity to uphold the constitution and not political survival.
He said the dismissal of the petitions was the last nail in the coffin of the Constitution and now the only relief will be from the courts. “It is unfortunate that Constitution has been murdered and the murderers have got away with it,” he said.
The dismissal of the disqualification petitions by the Speaker was anticipated according to most opposition members and they now look for some relief only through the courts.
While pointing out that justice delayed is justice denied, Sardesai said the Speaker could have redeemed him and the constitution but instead preferred to collude with the murderers of the Constitution.
He lamented that the Speaker did not recall his speech during the condolence motion for former speaker Surendra Sirsat in the Assembly. “I had pointed out that Surendra Sirsat is remembered today for his valour and courage in disqualifying a chief minister which went on to become a landmark order,” he said.
Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat while asserting that justice will be done said the dismissal by the Speaker was not the end of the story and added that it was expected that the speaker would react in the manner he has done.
Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat said the verdict by the Speaker was expected but indicated the party will take the matter to a logical conclusion. “Yeh Toh Hona Hi Tha (This was expected). Expected judgement which will never be respected by the people of Goa. Truth always prevails – matter of few more days, justice will be done. Constitution of India is always supreme & no power can overrule it,” he said in a media statement after the Speaker’s verdict.
The dismissal was no surprise for former minister Joaquim Alemao. “This is what was expected and everybody knew that the petitions will be dismissed,” he said adding that the matter will be decided by the people at the next elections where he asserted that defector Clafasio Dias will be defeated.
Joy D’Silva from Chandor who is a staunch Congress supporter and actively canvassed for Clafasio at the 2017 elections also shared the same sentiments. “The Speaker had to oblige the government and therefore it was expected that he would dismiss the petitions,” he said.
Jose Philip D’souza, president of the Nationalist
Congress party Goa said , “The recent development with regards to the disqualification petition seems to be influenced by political power. This is the mockery of the judiciary”.
Sankalp Amonkar, vice president Goa Pradesh Congress Committee said “Speaker’s order is in BJP’s favour but I have full faith in the Supreme Court, Supreme Court will definitely disqualify all ten defectors. Speaker has tried to safeguard his colleagues”.
