Team Herald
PANJIM: Speaker Dr Pramod Sawant has turned down the Congress request to extend the sitting of the House during the monsoon session from the current 12 days to 18 days.
Speaking to media persons outside the Assembly Complex in Porvorim on Thursday, Sawant assured that every MLA would be given enough time to raise queries on the floor of the House.
“There is no scope for extension. Even in the past, Assembly sessions have taken place for 10 days. We have given sufficient time and according to that, demands and budget, among other business of the House will take place. Everyone will be given a chance to speak,” he said.
On the possibility of the Business Advisory Committee insisting on increasing the sitting of the House, Sawant said, “If BAC raises the issue we will explain. The time table has already been decided. However, the day’s session can be extended to after 6pm.”
Congress’ Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco is not happy with the development arguing it is an attempt to stifle legislative democracy. “I had written to the Speaker two days before announcing the date of commencement of the Assembly session. Ten days is too less and we require more time as far as Assembly is concerned,” he said.
The MLA alleged that the Speaker will not allow the opposition party to speak. “You know better what the situation is. He doesn’t allow speaking for five minutes. I certainly want more time to speak,” he said when reporters told him that Speaker has assured to give time to the MLAs to raise issues in the House.
With no extension to the sitting, Congress will now decide its course of action. “If you see past experience of BJP, they have never allowed the Assembly to perform. They come up with something where they can divert. It is stifling of legislative democracy,” he said.
The party apprehends that some MLAs might face criminal cases ahead of the Assembly session. “Two-three cases will come up against our legislators before the Assembly session. It is not new. They can’t take criticism,” Lourenco said, adding their party will speak on issues such as delay of the government to solve mining crisis, employment, drugs and education among others.
The monsoon session of the State Assembly session will be held between July 19 and August 3. The Assembly has received dozens of LAQs from MLAs.
