Goa Assembly Faces Major Disruption as Opposition MLAs Stage Protest Over Stalled Bills
The morning session of the Goa Legislative Assembly on Friday descended into chaos as opposition legislators staged a vociferous protest, holding placards in the well of the House and raising slogans against what they termed 'dictatorship'. The disruption centered on their claim that nearly 16 private member bills had been held up and were not being introduced for discussion.
Multiple Adjournments and Marshal Intervention
The House was adjourned three times during the tumultuous session, with marshals having to lead the protesting MLAs out at one point. Speaker Ganesh Gaonkar attempted to pacify the agitated members, explaining that the bills they had submitted were undergoing scrutiny as per standard legislative procedure. However, the opposition remained unconvinced and continued their demonstration.
Key Bills at the Heart of the Controversy
The stalled legislation includes significant proposed amendments to the Town and Country Planning Act and the Goa Land Protection and Conservation Act, along with a new Goa Protection for Agriculture Land Act. These bills were submitted by St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar, highlighting critical issues of land use and agricultural protection in the state.
Escalating Protests and Sloganeering
The protest began when opposition MLAs first rushed to the well of the House, shouting slogans such as "We want justice" and "bandh karo hukumshahi bandh Karo" (stop this dictatorship). This initial outburst prompted Speaker Gaonkar to adjourn the assembly for 10 minutes.
When the session resumed and the speaker tried to reason with the protesting legislators, they rushed back to the well with renewed vigor, this time chanting 'karo ya maro' and displaying placards listing the names of the submitted bills. Their refusal to back down led to a second adjournment, this time for 30 minutes.
Solidarity and Continued Defiance
Upon returning, the MLAs raised the slogan "Amkam jai amkam jai, amchi billan amkam jai" (we want our bills), placing the bills on the floor of the well and walking around holding hands in a show of solidarity. As the speaker attempted to proceed with regular business, the legislators walked up to every member addressing the House, further disrupting proceedings.
"There is a procedure for bills to be taken up," reiterated Speaker Gaonkar, but the opposition remained steadfast in their protest.
Final Adjournment and Post-Protest Actions
The House had to be adjourned a third time at 12:40 PM, resuming only after the lunch break when the protesting MLAs chose not to attend the session. Instead, they addressed reporters outside the assembly building, expressing their grievances to the media and underscoring their determination to see their bills brought forward for discussion.
This incident highlights ongoing tensions within the Goa Legislative Assembly regarding the handling of private member bills and reflects broader concerns about legislative processes and opposition voices in the state's political landscape.
