Goa Assembly's first session of 2006 begins tomorrow Webindia123.com Panaji | February 12, 2006 3:40:58 PM IST
Goa Governor S C Jamir will address the first Legislative Assembly session of 2006 beginning here tomorrow as the Opposition prepares to put the Congress-led coalition government on the mat. Some bills besides the Business Advisory Committee's report are likely to be placed before the five-day long session which also discusse the Governor's address for three days, according to the legislature secretariat sources here today. The main Opposition BJP is determined on sending its message that the Pratapsinh Rane government, which will soon complete one year in office, is "inefficient and ineffective in all fronts". The House would be adjourned immediately after the Governor completes his address. The details of the bills to be placed were not available. In the 40-member House, the Congress has 18 members, supported by Nationalist Congress Party (2), Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (1) and Independent Filipe Neri Rodrigues, who was recently reinducted into the Cabinet, while BJP has 17 MLAs, supported by the lone UGDP member and former minister Mathanhy Saldanha. Three of the MLAs - Rajendra Arlekar, Dayanand Mandrekar, both BJP and Mr Saldanha were stripped off their right to either vote or speak in the House as per a High Court directive. Meanwhile, the BJP has planned to organise a massive 'chalo assembly' procession on Tuesday to protest against what it termed "miserable failure of the Congress-led Pratapsingh Rane's coalition government in all fronts". "We intend to reach the assembly complex at Porvorim to register our protest, resisting all police hurdles, if necessary," declared Mr Arlekar, who is also BJP State unit President. He said the party had not yet decided whether to boycott the Governor's address. The five-day session is going to be "ineffective" with the first day going for Governor's address and the last day for private members. "What business the Government could transact in the remaining three days in between?" he questioned. Speaker Francisco Sardinha has warned he would act tough if any of the members violated rules and behaved irresponsibly during the session. He, however, sought cooperation of all for smooth conduct of the House. As a precaution, the North Goa District Collector had promulgated prohibitory orders effective from tomorrow under Section 144 of CrPC banning asssembly of five or more people within 300 metres radius of the Assembly premises besides carrying of arms, lathis and holding of processions without permission.(UNI)
