Team Herald
MARGAO: Goa Forward President Vijai Sardesai has raised serious concerns over the government’s decision to call for a two-day Assembly session, questioning the rationale behind it, especially in the absence of any urgent or emergency situation.
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He warned that if the government does not clarify its reasoning, the Opposition parties, including his own, may be compelled to hold a ‘public’ Assembly session at Azad Maidan in Panjim.
Sardesai alleged that the government’s move to curtail the upcoming Assembly session to effectively one working day was not only an affront to democratic norms but also a deliberate attempt to undermine the very institutions of democracy.
He stated, “This is a clear mockery of our democratic processes, and it sets a dangerous precedent, reducing democracy to a mere token event once or twice a year.”
He further criticised Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and his cabinet for this “despotic action,” calling it “a slap on the face of every Goan who has placed their faith in democracy—a faith that helped Sawant assume the position of Chief Minister in the first place.” Sardesai expressed that he remained undeterred by this “mindless assault” on democratic values.
“As the Opposition, we will not remain silent,” he said. “If the government continues to neglect the voice of the people, we may have no choice but to call for an ‘Assembly’ outside the House, where we will hold this government accountable for the rampant mismanagement of public funds and the numerous scams they have been involved in.”
