Ruling party has murdered democracy: Cong

Panaji: The Congress spokesperson Amarnath Panjikar while condemning both the incidents, arrest of Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte and the removal of opposition MLAs from the Assembly, said that the ruling party has allegedly murdered democracy in Goa.

Addressing the media, Panjikar along with Swati Kerkar, Anand Naik and Urfan Mulla, said, Khaunte must have realised that he committed a mistake by joining with the BJP government in 2017 and must be now repenting for his act, adding that Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardessai should now quit the NDA.

Khaunte should get justice and if he is found guilty, he should be punished within the parameters of law, he said, adding that the Congress will protest against the ruling party.

Meanwhile, condemning the incident on Premanand Mhambre, Porvorim Congress block committee has demanded that the government should investigate the issue and within 30 days a charge sheet should be filed.

Addressing the media, Shankar Phadte, Porvorim Congress block president in the presence of Vilas Naik, Umesh Narvekar Roma Fernandes, Wilbur Ticlo and Amit Naik said that it is a matter of serious concern that such a criminal act was done by a legislator and that too in the precincts of the state legislative assembly.

“Premanand Mhambre is a respected person and is of the age of the father of Rohan Khaunte, who has probably been in public life even before Rohan Khaunte was born. The alleged incident is very unfortunate that the legislator could not respect the basic fundamental right of freedom of speech” said Phadte.