PANJIM: Speaker Rajendra Arlekar ordered marshals to shift out three Opposition MLAs – Independents Vijai Sardesai, Rohan Khaunte and Congress’ Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco – who rushed to the well of the House demanding the resignation of Industries Minister Mahadev Naik in the alleged housing loan fraud.
As mark of protest, the entire Opposition including Leader of Opposition Pratapsing Rane and Independent MLA Naresh Sawal walked out. Only Congress MLA Mauvin Godinho stayed back in the House.
When the session began Monday morning, Sardesai, Khaunte and Lourenco rushed to the well of the House with placards demanding the minister’s resignation alleging his involvement in a housing loan fraud, exposed by an NGO last week. Two other legislators – Vishwajit Rane (Congress) and Sawal, also rushed to the well but remained peaceful.
“Please raise this issue before the government. This is not the forum to demand,” the Speaker told the agitating legislators. Despite repeated warnings from the Speaker, the legislators refused to move out, forcing him to call for marshals to take them out of the House.
Even as Question Hour was called, the protest continued with Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) legislator Lavoo Mamledar demanding an inquiry into the fraud. “I demand that the fraud be investigated,” he said, but the Speaker refused to allow him to continue discussing the topic.
