Porvorim: Opposition members on Monday staged a protest in the well of the House during the customary address by Governor P Ashok Gajapathi Raju, demanding a statement on the nightclub fire tragedy.
The five-day-long winter session of the Goa Legislative Assembly began Monday with the Governor addressing the House.
The Governor was welcomed in the House by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, and other members.
When the Governor stood to address the House, Leader of Opposition Alemao demanded that the Governor make a statement on the Birch by Romeo Lane at Arpora nightclub fire tragedy that killed 25 people. Alemao said that out of respect to the Governor, he should start the speech with a reference to the nightclub fire tragedy and highlighted that 25 people had died in the state. Chief Minister Sawant attempted to intervene and asked him to sit down.
Alemao further said that accountability should be fixed on the government for the tragedy. Sawant told the Leader of Opposition to maintain the protocol of the House.
Speaker Ganesh Gaonkar urged the Leader of Opposition to sit down, but Alemao continued speaking. Following this, all opposition members rushed to the well of the House with placards.
While the Governor continued his speech, the opposition members shouted against the government. All seven MLAs from Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Goa Forward Party, and Revolutionary Goans Party participated in the protest.
The protesting members were escorted out of the House by security personnel.
