PANJIM: After the ruckus on the opening day of the budget session over the beach cleaning scam, Opposition leader Pratapsingh Rane “inadvertently” became the saviour for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party government on the second day.
The members of the Mahagatbandhan had planned a second attack in as many days on the government during Question Hour, this time on the issue of Lusofonia Games, which were hosted by the State in 2014.
However, the Opposition leader Rane took almost 35 to 40 minutes of precious time during Question Hour on the Mayem Evacuee property issue, which prevented the opposition members from raising the Lusofonia Games issue. “I don’t know whether it was by design or default but precious time was lost during Question Hour,” said Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, who along with Porvorim MLA, Rohan Khaunte had planned an even bigger attack on the government.
Sardesai further said that the whole day had nothing except for the congratulatory motion.
“The government is not concerned about the issues of the state and is busy wasting time on irrelevant issues,” he said. Speaking about the Lusofonia scam, Sardesai said that the government made sure that the question on the issue did not come up.
He said the cases in the Lusofonia scam of around Rs 300 cr were lodged in 2014 but till date there has been no inquiry, no questioning etc.
“If it is not worthy, why not close the case? If not, inquire thoroughly,” he said.
“I don’t know what it was but Rane became a part or victim of the government plan as he went on dragging the Mayem property issue unnecessarily,” he said.
Sardesai also took a dig at the main Opposition, Congress saying “Even after four years, they are not ready to accept defeat and understand they are in the opposition and hence they are not acting like one.”
Khaunte was also critical of Rane for dragging his question for too long.
“What can we say when our own person comes to the rescue the government. We had a fool-proof plan to corner the government but could not go ahead,” he said.
