PANJIM: High drama unfolded at the Goa Legislative Assembly when former Union Law minister Ramakant Khalap, protesting the government’s step-motherly treatment to Mandre College, was confined in the press room till the end of the first day’s session.
Dressed in white kurta-pyajama and a black hat, Khalap staged a solo protest against the government outside the Assembly complex, 30 minutes before the session began. His attempts to demand justice for Mandre College of Commerce, Economics and Management from the Assembly gallery – situated on the second floor – were thwarted by the police and marshals.
He was then taken to the press room where he shouted slogans against the government and Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, and was repeatedly restrained as he tried to leave the place.
“I demand an apology from the Speaker if he has passed such an order and if there is no order, then take action against the police for confining me here,” he said in a rather loud tone while also condemning government high-handedness.
Khalap refused to calm down despite being convinced by the security personnel that his move would disturb the proceedings of the House. The Congress leader is protesting denial of grants to NGO Vikas Parishad-run Mandre College of Commerce, Economics and Management.
“The parishad was granted approval by ex-CM (now Defence Minister) Manohar Parrikar to start the college on grant-in-aid basis through an order on July 17, 2012. We were assured approval for Arts faculty in 2013. Along with Mandre College, three other institutions were granted permission based on the same requests but it shocked us when both approvals were denied,” he said, alleging that Parsekar was deliberately denying the approval in an attempt to shut the institution.
“Students should take a note that Parsekar is spoiling their future. He is going against the interest of students and the whole of Goa,” he added.
At the end of the session, Congress leaders raised the matter with deputy speaker Anant Shet questioning the government’s intention. “Give him due respect (referring to Khalap). He was confined in the press room. Respect him for he has been our former Union minister,” Curtorim MLA Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco told the House. He was supported by Leader of the Opposition Pratapsingh Rane.
Parsekar defended his government claiming that one should respect the ‘sacred’ precinct of the Goa Legislative Assembly and maintain discipline.
