Oppn demands discussion on COVID scenario in state

Margao: The opposition parties – Congress party and Goa Forward Party (GFP), on Sunday demanded a discussion on the COVID scenario in the state during the one-day Assembly session to be held on Monday, stating that the issue is more important than any other issue presently facing the state.

Leader of opposition Digambar Kamat, in a press statement issued here stated that “every COVID patient in Goa needs to be considered as our own relative by all the elected representatives. We need to show a sense of belongingness to every person getting infected with COVID. There cannot be any other issue more important than COVID crisis in Goa for discussion during the one-day Assembly session scheduled on Monday 27th July. I demand that the Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant must clarify whether any other subject matter is more important than the COVID crisis and the sufferings of people.”

Drawing attention to the unfortunate death of a 14-year-old girl due to COVID, Kamat said that there is a need to have a detailed discussion on the issue.

“The death toll due to COVID is rising day by day, with the unfortunate death of a 14-year-old girl. The situation will go out of hand if the BJP government does not act sensibly now, and will push Goans into a death trap. If the government does not accept the Opposition’s demand for a discussion on COVID, we will be compelled to take an alternate course of action,” he added. 

He further stated that it is confusing that the government has not cancelled the order for reservation of 20 per cent of ICU beds in private hospitals even when the Health Secretary has said that 50 per cent of the COVID hospital is vacant.

Kamat also raised an alarm at the COVID testing rate, which he said has slowed down, and now has a backlog of almost 7,000 tests.

In a recorded press statement issued here, the Goa Forward Party president Vijai Sardesai stated that “the state’s response to COVID-19 is a matter of urgency that needed to be prioritised for the one-day Assembly session.”

“The main issue is of COVID. And, the state’s preparedness and response is not going to be discussed. Other important issues facing the state like the forest destruction in Mollem and the state finances will not be discussed. The government expects the opposition to sit quiet and say nothing. Our only weapon is the rules of procedure and conduct of the Assembly. Rule 69 allows the opposition to raise a definite matter of urgent importance. The most definite matter of urgent importance facing the public is the number of COVID deaths that have been reported including that of a 14-year-old girl. We will move an adjournment motion on Monday. If the government does not allow this discussion to happen, we will not allow the House to function. We will not allow the session to continue,” he stated.

He further added that the one-day session is only to pass an irrelevant budget and bills.

“Because of COVID, the three-week session has been reduced to one day. But the main discussion on COVID only is not going to happen. This has been clearly said by the government in its business for the day. They only want to pass an irrelevant budget that was done before COVID along with the demands and their bills. This is a record-breaking agenda that just wants to pass everything,” stated Sardesai.