TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: With the party leadership busy fighting internal battles, the Congress has deferred its plan to march on the State Legislative Assembly with a ‘charge-sheet’ against Manohar Parrikar-led government, which was scheduled for July 22 – the opening day of the Budget session.
The march, which was to hand over the ‘charge-sheet’ to the Speaker and the Governor, was scheduled to be led by AICC general secretary and Goa desk-in-charge Digvijaya Singh, has now been postponed to August.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president John Fernandes confirmed about the postponement of the agitation citing absence of Goa Governor Margaret Alva in Goa and monsoons as the reasons. He said that the agitation would be held in the first week of August when Digvijaya Singh would be present.
“The Goa Governor is out of state as she holds charge of two other states as Governor. We would be requesting her to be present in the first week of August,” he said adding that a 27-point charge-sheet would be submitted to her.
Singh during his Goa visit on June 26 had announced about the agitation and Pradesh congress committee task of preparing the charge-sheet against BJP-led government, who will be completing two and half years in power in September. The ‘charge-sheet’ was supposed to be presented to Governor by party president while it would be presented to the Assembly speaker by Leader of Opposition Pratapsing Rane.
Though Fernandes has citied the above reasons behind the postponement, sources revealed that lack of coordination between MLAs has put the plan on hold, with the party yet to prepare any ‘charge-sheet’ against the government.
“Within the party there is displeasure over functioning of the president and the Leader of Opposition. The (GPCC) president works with his own members without taking any one into confidence while Leader of opposition is not at all interested in any work of the party,” a senior office bearer said.
Rane is currently fighting a legal battle in an alleged bribery case filed by one mine owner before the special investigating team. Rane has generally been perceived as a weak legislative leader by his own colleagues.
The BJP came to power on March 9 after the 2012 elections, defeating the Congress. BJP is in alliance with MGP and supported by four independent MLAs and two Goa Vikas Party MLAs.
Assembly session highlights
Month-long session will conclude on August 21, with 18 working days.
MLAs to get on-line replies to questions; to be uploaded on website almost immediately.
Total 2,600 questions received so far – Unstarred 1,400 and starred 1,200. Each MLA’s question limited to 18 per day – 15 unstarred and 3 starred.
So far, BJP MLA Vishnu Wagh and Independent MLA Rohan Khaunte top with maximum 162 questions asked so far; others include independent MLA Naresh Sawal (152), Congress MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco (151) and Independent MLA Vijai Sardessai (147).
The session will have general discussion on Budget 2014-15.
The important bills likely to be tabled include amendment to the Panchayat Raj Act, Municipality Act, Goa Police Bill and Mining policy.
Scheme for loan borrowers from mining areas would be announced.
