Goa: Opposition to corner government in House over Mhadei, law and order

PANAJI: The budget session of the state legislative assembly which will begin on Monday is likely to see a face off between the treasury benches and the opposition as the latter has decided to raise various issues, including Mhadei water diversion, law and order, extortion call to a minister, state’s finances and Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Chief minister Pramod Sawant will present the state budget for the fiscal year 2020-21 on February 6. Sawant has received 395 suggestions and ideas from the public for preparation of the budget 2020-21.
The focus of the budget is expected to be sustainable development of the state. Sawant has hinted that the state budget will be on the lines of the Union Budget.
The state government will introduce around 13 government bills during the budget session, including the bill which will allow setting up of private universities in the state. “Private university bill will help make Goa an educational hub and it is a green industry,” Sawant said.
Opposition parties, including Congress, GFP, MGP and independent MLAs are likely to work together to corner the government during the budget session.
Oppn to raise law & order, finance issues in House
Leader of the opposition Digambar Kamat said that Congress would coordinate with other opposition parties to checkmate the government on the floor of the House.
The Margao Congress legislator said the opposition will raise law and order issues, the bad finances of the state and other issues.
Goa Forward Party (GFP) has already said that it would urge the speaker to allow a debate on CAA in the assembly as the CM has agreed to it, and said it would be an opportunity for those ‘suffocating’ in the BJP, to voice their opinions .
Fatorda MLA and GFP president Vijai Sardesai is likely to raise the issue of the extortion bid on PWD minister Deepak Pauskar.
A few days ago, the Goa Forward president said that it is a matter of concern that a legislator MLA was threatened, and some persons tried to extort money from him, yet the accused were barely kept in custody for a night, and then released.
The police should have investigated the matter properly, Sardesai said.
On January 7, when the House met for a day, a united opposition moved an adjournment motion to discuss the Mhadei water diversion issue. However, but the speaker did not allow the motion citing that the one-day session was called specifically to ratify a bill passed in the assembly, and that the issue was not recent.