Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: Ahead of the upcoming four-day Goa Assembly session, Opposition leaders have raised concerns over the agenda, calling for greater emphasis on pressing state issues.
Opposition Leader Yuri Alemao, along with MLAs Vijai Sardesai, Adv Carlos Ferreira, Altone D’Costa, Viresh Borkar, and Venzy Viegas, held a strategy meeting to discuss their approach for the session.
Alemao stressed that the Opposition should be given more time to speak and that key matters such as special status for Goa, the Birch Nightclub fire case, corruption, and illegal land conversions need urgent discussion. He also highlighted the environmental degradation in the state as a priority issue.
Vijay Sardesai criticised the ruling BJP’s agenda, alleging that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is more focused on “keeping Prime Minister Narendra Modi happy” rather than addressing local concerns. He added that the practice of BJP members filing private resolutions undermines the purpose of Private Members’ Day, which is traditionally meant for the Opposition.
Responding to the session schedule, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that overall inputs on the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting should be provided by the Speaker.
He confirmed that the Government has decided to discuss “Vande Mataram” in the session, with the debate scheduled for January 13.
Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar added that the Assembly session will start on Monday with the Governor’s speech, and private members’ resolutions will be discussed on Friday.
The Opposition reiterated that a longer Assembly session is needed to ensure important state issues are adequately debated.
