Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Jul 8: Tensions escalated ahead of the monsoon session of the Goa Legislative Assembly as opposition MLAs walked out of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting on Tuesday, accusing the BJP-led government of stifling dissent and subverting democratic processes. The meeting, meant to finalise the legislative agenda for the upcoming 15-day session beginning July 21, ended in acrimony as opposition leaders alleged deliberate efforts to curtail their participation.
The walkout was led by Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, Goa Forward Party’s Vijai Sardesai, Aam Aadmi Party’s Venzy Viegas, and Goa Revolutionary Party’s Viresh Borkar. They claimed the government had reduced their opportunity to raise pressing issues by limiting discussion time on the Demand for Grants to just 20 minutes per party and blocking even unstarred questions.
Alemao termed the move as “a mockery of democratic norms” and said the opposition was being denied its basic right to ask questions. He said the government was avoiding accountability on rising corruption, deteriorating law and order, and administrative lapses. “If opposition voices are being crushed, why even hold a session?” he asked, calling it a “dark day for Goan democracy.”
GFP MLA Vijai Sardesai echoed the criticism, saying the government did not want real public issues to surface. “They don’t want us to speak because they don’t want the people’s voices heard. Even unstarred questions are being blocked,” he said, accusing the ruling party of orchestrating a “complete subversion of democracy.”
GRP MLA Viresh Borkar went further, describing the current atmosphere as one of “complete dictatorship.”
In response, Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar dismissed the allegations, asserting that the opposition left only after discussions had concluded. He said the session had been structured to ensure proceedings end by 8:30 p.m. daily and that all decisions were taken with consensus in mind.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant declined to comment on the walkout, stating that procedural matters fall under the jurisdiction of the Speaker.