BJP says opposition agreed to one-day session, Digambar Kamat calls it ‘lies’

PANAJI: A day after an action-packed one-day assembly session, the ruling and opposition have gotten into a war of words. Condemning the behaviour of the opposition in the House on Monday, BJP claimed that they had unanimously agreed to the single-day session in view of Covid. The opposition rubbished the claim on Tuesday and demanded that the government produce the minutes of the business advisory committee meeting as proof.
Former Panaji MLA Sidharth Kuncalienkar told reporters, “After the question hour, the opposition created an unruly scene. It was ‘goondagardi’ and they distrusted the functioning of the temple of democracy. BJP condemns this act.” Kuncalienkar said an effort was being made by Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai and the opposition to mislead the House. “Such things should not happen in the assembly,” he said.
Kuncalienkar added that after one MLA was found positive, speaker Rajesh Patnekar had called an all-party meeting on July 3.
“At the meeting, everyone was of the unanimous opinion that there should be a one-day session because there are a lot of senior members in the House. Leader of opposition Digambar Kamat who himself was chief minister for five years gave a statement that we have unanimously decided to have a one-day session,” Kuncalienkar said.
He also said that the opposition did not give a proper adjournment notice which was rejected by the speaker.
Reacting to BJP, the opposition lashed out and sought the minutes of the meeting. “Will @BJP4Goa produce Minutes of All Party Meeting with signatures of Opposition MLA’s substantiating their claim that Opposition had unanimously agreed for one day session of Goa Legislative Assembly? Our acceptance was CONDITIONAL as clearly mentioned in my Dissent Letter to BAC,” Kamat tweeted.
Kamat said the blatant lies of BJP alleging that the opposition had unanimously accepted the one-day session are out of frustration and failure of the government in handling the Covid pandemic and its inefficiency in reviving the economy of Goa.
“Spokesmen of @BJP4Goa are like Goebbels. Repeating a lie won’t make it the truth, not at least in #Goa ! Opposition agreed on passing vote on account never budget! But if the ministers of @GovtofGoa are capable of answering our questions let’s have a virtual assembly in exile! Ok?” Sardesai tweeted.