PORVORIM: The united Opposition has condemned the wee-hour arrest of Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte charging Speaker Rajesh Patnekar of acting on the pressure of the ruling party. In a joint press conference, the leaders also took strong objection on being escorted out of the House, claiming it is first time in the history of Goa Legislative Assembly.
Before the House met at 11:30am on Thursday, Goa Forward president Vijai Sardesai said they lodged a verbal complaint with the Speaker about ‘false complaint’ against the Independent legislator. Since no assurance or action was taken by the Speaker, the Opposition MLAs made their demand on the floor of the House.
“Initially we were not aware that Khaunte’s arrest was after Speaker’s permission but on learning this, we are shocked. He should have verified the complaint by seeking a police report rather than blindly acting on it. It appears that he has done so under pressure (of the BJP) and doing things which he shouldn’t,” Sardesai said while addressing the press conference in the Opposition Lobby on Thursday.
Opposition Leader Digambar Kamat, senior legislator Pratapsingh Rane, Luizinho Faleiro, Ravi Naik, Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, Jayesh Salgaonkar, Vinod Palyekar and MGP’s Ramkrishna Dhavalikar besides Khaunte also addressed the media as they unanimously criticised the government as well as Speaker for the unwarranted move.
“The government is frustrated, desperate and doing things contrary to the law and the Indian Constitution. When we as representatives of the people are treated in such a way for raising common man’s issues in the House, what will be the fate of the general public,” Sardesai questioned.
Rane, who is an eye-witness to the episode on Wednesday, slammed the authorities for acting without authentication. “We walked together (Khaunte and himself)… You can’t put false allegations and more so, it should not have been entertained by the Speaker. We will not tolerate this,” he warned.
“We have sought the arrest of BJP spokesperson Premanand Mhambrey for the false complaint. Our demand is to arrest the complainant who lodged a false complaint. Until he is arrested, we will not allow the proceedings of the House,” Sardesai added.
Apprehending that government might resort to similar acts against them in future, the Fatorda MLA said they will not seek bail unlike this time (referring to Khaunte’s bail) but voters will show the BJP the doors in the coming election.
Kamat, who also expressed displeasure over the wee-hour development, said despite facing criticism as Chief Minister of Goa in the past, he didn’t resort to any means like arrest of the protestors. “I faced protests on Medium of Instruction, Regional Plan and so many issues. I had morchas even till my residence, my flat… but I did not make the police arrest them,” he said also condemning Khaunte’s arrest.
On being escorted out of the House during the presentation of the Budget, Kamat said it was the first time in Goa Legislative Assembly’s history and first time that Budget is presented without the Opposition. Among those escorted out of the House included four former Chief Ministers.
Faleiro too reacted stating, “It is a shame… Accepting bogus complaint without an inquiry is never heard in my entire life and I don’t think this is the precedent in the entire country and the world.”
“It was purely contempt of the House,” Faleiro commented as Ravi Naik too opposed the manner in which police acted on the complaint. “He (Khaunte) has a family; there were kids at his house. How can the police attack in the late hours? The Speaker should have heard the other side of the complaint,” Ravi Naik, Congress’ Ponda MLA said.
The United Opposition also related the entire episode to Tamil Nadu’s incident in 2001 wherein ex-CM of TN Karunanidhi was arrested during the late hours. “We are prepared for it … you never know in between this Budget Session and the Monsoon Session, all of us will be inside (arrest)… next time we will not take bail,” Sardesai said stating people know the truth.
“Government is trying to silence the Opposition,” the Opposition MLAs said. Khaunte too denied allegations against him while also clarifying that BJP’s allegation on his assets are false. “My business is legal. It has created jobs for more than 200 Goans,” he said.
The opposition has decided to continue with their demand on Friday as well stating they will do it till justice is met.
