Goa Assembly In Chaos: Ruling Bench Demands Apology, Adjourns House Twice Over MLA's Remarks
The Goa assembly witnessed tumultuous scenes for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, as the ruling benches persisted in demanding an apology from Congress MLA Altone D'Costa over his remarks concerning Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar. The proceedings were adjourned twice as the controversy escalated during the ongoing monsoon session.
On Monday, a breach of privilege motion was initiated against D'Costa by BJP MLA Daji Krishna Salkar, alleging that D'Costa's statement about the Speaker dropping a resolution on reservation for Scheduled Tribes was disrespectful and unsubstantiated. This motion led to disruptions and the adjournment of the House on the first day of the session.
The situation repeated itself on Tuesday, with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and other ruling party members demanding an apology from D'Costa. The Chief Minister emphasized the need for clarity and respect for the Speaker's position, stating, "It is about the Speaker's post and respecting it."
In response, D'Costa defended his stance, clarifying that he did not make any derogatory remarks towards the Speaker. He expressed readiness to cooperate with the Breach of Privilege committee regarding the motion filed against him.
Despite D'Costa's clarification, the demand for an apology persisted from the ruling benches. The House was adjourned briefly to quell the uproar, but tensions flared again upon reconvening, leading to another adjournment.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao intervened, emphasizing the importance of resolving the issue swiftly for the smooth functioning of the assembly. Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai also affirmed D'Costa's respect for the Speaker's chair.
Attempting to pacify the situation, Chief Minister Sawant acknowledged the statements from opposition members and indicated a desire to bring closure to the matter, stressing the necessity of maintaining respect for the parliamentary decorum.
