Oppn MLAs removed from House following Speaker’s order

Panaji: The 10 united opposition MLAs were forcibly removed from the House by the marshals following the order of the Speaker Rajesh Patnekar as they continued to protest by gathering at the well of the House after the Speaker disallowed the adjournment motion moved by them for a discussion on COVID-19 crisis.

Earlier, the opposition MLAs from Goa Forward Party, Congress party,  Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (lone legislator) and independent MLA Rohan Khaunte demanded with the Speaker to admit the adjournment motion soon after the question hour, however, Patnekar said that he is ready to admit the adjournment motion only after the other business of the House is completed.

As per the rules, the particular motion was moved hours before the proceedings of the day-long session of the state assembly began.

As the Speaker paid no heed to their demand, the 10 opposition MLA then gathered in the well of the House, raising slogans such as ‘Shame, shame.’

Chief Minister then got up from his seat and said that he and the health Minister Vishwajit Rane were ready to make their statements on COVID situation and urged them to allow him to first present the budget, but the opposition MLAs kept on insisting that since the matter was of public importance it should be taken up for discussion, and opposition MLAs should be given an opportunity to have their say on the floor of the House.

Speaker Patnekar then gave his ruling rejecting the admission of the adjournment motion wherein he said, “The adjournment motion is not admissible unless there is a failure on the part of the government to perform the duties enjoyed under the Constitution of India law.”

Pointing out that the opposition MLAs had included ‘current financial status of the state economy’ as the second issue for the discussion; the Speaker said it was another ground for not admitting the motion as per

the rules.

Despite repeated requests from Speaker to allow the proceedings of the House, the opposition continued to raise the slogan against the government in the well of the House, after which Patnekar named each opposition MLA and ordered their removal.