Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: Proceedings of the Goa Legislative Assembly were disrupted on Friday after Opposition MLAs staged a protest over the alleged refusal to allow introduction of their private member bills, including the proposed Goa Protection of Agricultural Lands Bill. The uproar forced Speaker Ganesh Gaonkar to adjourn the House first till 1 pm and later for another 30 minutes.
Opposition legislators, led by Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, entered the House dressed in black as a mark of protest. The MLAs raised slogans of “Karo ya maro” and displayed placards before rushing to the well of the House, demanding that they be allowed to introduce their proposed legislation.
The protest intensified when the members questioned why their bills were not being permitted for introduction. Despite repeated appeals by the Speaker to allow the Chair to address the House, the Opposition continued raising slogans, leading to disruption of proceedings.
Speaker Ganesh Gaonkar remarked that such behaviour was not in keeping with democratic functioning and urged members to maintain order so that the House could proceed with its business. However, as the protests continued, he was compelled to adjourn the session.
Opposition MLAs said they were protesting because several private member bills submitted by them were not allowed to be introduced in the Assembly. According to them, these bills aimed to address key issues including protection of agricultural land and scrapping of Section 39A.
The Opposition claimed that 21 private member bills had been submitted by various MLAs but were not permitted for introduction. The bills were moved by Viresh Borkar (6), Venzy Viegas (5), Vijai Sardesai (4), Yuri Alemao (3), and one each by Carlos Ferreira, Cruz Silva and Altone D’Costa, they said.
Among the proposals, Aldona MLA Viresh Borkar submitted six private member bills for the current Assembly session. These include The Goa Protection of Agriculture Land Act, 2026; The Goa Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Act, 2026; The Goa Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act, 2026; The Goa River Conservation and Management Act, 2026; The Goa Land Protection and Conservation Act, 2026; and The Goa Khazan Land (Protection, Restoration and Management) Act, 2026.
Opposition leaders maintained that the bills were intended to safeguard agricultural lands, protect natural resources and address planning-related concerns in the State. They accused the government of blocking discussion on important issues affecting Goa’s environment and land use.
