Panaji: Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao on Wednesday urged Goa Legislative Assembly Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar to uphold the democratic process by allowing Opposition MLAs to raise issues and receive equal rights during the forthcoming assembly session.
Cuncolim MLA Yuri Alemao wrote to Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar, stating that it is essential that Private Members’ Business is not skipped, especially when the assembly session is convened for just two or three days, starting Monday.
“This would unfairly deprive elected representatives of their rightful opportunities. Instead, as per Rule 31, an alternative day of the week should be allocated for Private Members’ Business if the session concludes before Friday. This adjustment ensures that the voices of all representatives are heard, upholding the principles of democracy and representation,” Alemao said.
Referring to the rejection of the PUC report in the last assembly session, he said, “I was appalled by the government’s actions in the last assembly session. Despite the Public Undertaking Committee reports being adopted by the committee, listed on the session’s agenda, and accordingly presented with the Speaker’s permission, the government disregarded the Speaker’s authority and rejected them without any discussion or debate.”
“The fact that PUC members from the ruling party opposed the report in the House, despite adopting it in the PUC meeting, sets a worrying precedent. This contradictory stance undermines the integrity of the process and raises concerns about the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability,” he stated in the letter.
“If such traditions continue, future reports will likely face similar opposition, allowing corruption, irregularities, and mismanagement to persist unchecked. This would not only harm the public interest but also erode trust in the government’s ability to govern effectively,” Alemao pointed out.
He said that the current state of affairs is alarming, as the government has drastically reduced Assembly session days to just two or three.
“To safeguard the rights of MLAs, the Business Advisory Committee must ensure that Opposition MLAs are given adequate time to participate in the proceedings of the House,” he urged.
