Panaji: Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly, Ganesh Gaonkar, on Monday sought an unconditional apology from Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai over the protests by anti-dam demonstrators inside the House.
Four persons were arrested by local police after protesting from the visitors’ gallery of the House on March 6, the first day of the session. They were demanding the scrapping of the dam project on the Zuari river at Mirabag village in the Sanvordem Assembly constituency.
Speaker Ganesh Gaonkar, in his ruling pronounced on Monday, said the records indicate that all four were issued visitors’ gallery passes by the office of GFP MLA Sardesai. He added that scrutiny of CCTV footage also shows the four moving around “suspiciously” in the Assembly premises.
Gaonkar said all four were also seen entering Sardesai’s office before the incident. The Speaker ruled that such an incident does not augur well for the respect of the House. He directed Sardesai to tender an “unconditional apology” within 24 hours, failing which he would be forced to take appropriate action against the MLA.
The Speaker also banned all four persons from entering the Assembly premises in the future.
Reacting to the order, Sardesai said he would respond later. “I have 24 hours. I will talk about it at the right time,” he told reporters outside the Assembly complex. “I am not a new member in the House. I have experience as a member. I respect the House and the Speaker. I will do what is good for Goa,” he added.
