The upcoming winter session of the Goa Legislative Assembly, scheduled to commence on January 12, is already mired in controversy. The state government, led by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, has decided to hold a special discussion on the 150 years of 'Vande Mataram', a move that has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition. This decision comes at the expense of addressing pressing public concerns, including the tragic fire at an illegal nightclub in Arpora that claimed 25 lives, rampant corruption, and deteriorating law and order.
Government's Priority Sparks Outcry
After a meeting of the business advisory committee on Tuesday, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced that the special discussion on 'Vande Mataram' will be held on January 13. He stated that the government had requested Speaker Ganesh Gaonkar for this discussion, and the permission was granted. This announcement effectively turned down the opposition's persistent demand to allocate time for debating a series of critical issues facing the coastal state.
Leader of Opposition, Yuri Alemao, emphasized that Goa is currently in a state of crisis, with multiple urgent matters requiring the assembly's attention. His sentiment was echoed by Goa Forward Party president and Fatorda MLA, Vijai Sardesai, who lamented the failure to discuss issues related to protecting Goa's unique identity.
Opposition's Concerns Silenced
The opposition's specific demand to discuss the proliferation of illegal nightclubs along Goa's coastline was notably sidelined. AAP's Benaulim MLA, Venzy Viegas, expressed strong disappointment, stating they specifically wanted to discuss these illegal establishments in the wake of the deadly fire at 'Birch by Romeo Lane' in Arpora. "If required, we will go and protest outside illegal nightclubs. We will not allow anyone to die in a fire at a nightclub," Viegas asserted, highlighting the gravity of the issue.
Vijai Sardesai criticized the decision to discuss Vande Mataram in the state assembly, noting it was already debated in Parliament. He drew parallels with incidents in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, suggesting the move could be used to label the opposition as 'anti-national'. Sardesai alleged, "Similar things followed in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, and the opposition was called anti-national... Similarly, Sawant wants to make Modi happy, and that is the reason it was decided to discuss Vande Mataram."
A Culture of Avoidance?
The opposition leaders accused the government of fostering an 'anti-democratic culture' by avoiding discussions on main issues. Sardesai revealed he had moved a private member's resolution to discuss air pollution but held little hope for its consideration. He warned that while history might be rewritten during the Vande Mataram discussion, the real problems would remain unaddressed.
Yuri Alemao pointed to a telling trend, stating that governing MLAs themselves were submitting numerous private member's resolutions, which he interpreted as a sign of a non-functioning government. He alleged these MLAs then purposely abstain when their resolutions are called, and criticized the delay in uploading answers to the assembly portal. Alemao pledged that opposition parties would coordinate to grill the government on various issues, setting aside party ideologies to "speak as Goans."
The stage is set for a contentious winter session in Panaji, where the debate over patriotic symbolism is poised to overshadow urgent discussions on public safety, governance, and the state's future.
