RG waiting for legislature dept’s response, may rework POGO bill

Panaji: Revolutionary Goans (RG) MLA Viresh Borkar said he is waiting for a response from the legislature department to the private member’s bill he had moved on the Persons Of Goan Origin (POGO), to decide on the future course of action.
During a heated discussion on the last day of the monsoon session of the Goa assembly on Friday, chief minister Pramod Sawant had informed the house that the bill moved by the St Andre MLA was unconstitutional. When asked to spell out the reasons for it, law minister Nilesh Cabral had said that Borkar could check the noting put up by the law department file of which was placed on the table of the house by him.
"If the concerns are genuine then we will definitely look at them, talk to constitutional experts and see how to rework it," said Borkar.
“ I have not got any reply. The law department and the chief minister have made comments but as per procedure the speaker has to tell the house if a private member's bill has been accepted or rejected," said Borkar while speaking to TOI. "I need an explanation," Borkar said.
Borkar said that as per norms of the Goa legislative assembly, the speaker needs to officially inform him if the bill has been accepted or rejected.
RG chief Manoj Parab, speaking to the media after the session, said if POGO bill is unconstitutional then how did the government last year get the Bhumiputra bill, he asked.
“From the discussion in the assembly, the people have come to know who is with the native people”, Parab said accusing the ruling party of ignoring the sentiments of the local people. “The government is only making statements of working in the interest of Goa and Goans. It is only lip service”, he said. Parab also slammed Independent MLA from Curtorim Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco for criticising Borkar during discussion on Friday.