House to discuss Mhadei, oppn not happy with duration

Panaji: The Goa legislative assembly’s business advisory committee (BAC) decided on Monday to discuss the Mhadei issue in the House on January 19. The four-day winter session is scheduled to start on January 16. However, the opposition is unhappy as its demand to increase the duration of the session was rejected at the BAC meeting.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, chief minister Pramod Sawant said, “We have told the opposition that on Thursday, we will hold a discussion on Mhadei, we have only four working days”.
Leader of opposition Yuri Alemao said that during the meeting, he demanded that the restriction in asking questions only pertaining to the past five years should be removed, and that the House must allow five sub-questions. He also asked for a special session to discuss Mhadei, and that private member’s day should be continued, among other demands.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said that the government is not allowing the session to continue till Friday (to allow private members’ day). “We have asked them to put our demands to vote, but the speaker said that his decision is final. The Mhadei issue will be discussed on (next) Thursday,” said Sardesai.
Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas said that the demand to hold a discussion on Mhadei on Friday was rejected by the government. Viegas said that they have demanded an increase in calling attention motions, but the government said that as per rules, only two are allowed.
St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar said that the chief minister is not ready to listen to opposition demands. “The chief minister said whatever he has decided is final,” Borkar said, adding that he was not allowed to speak on the Mhadei issue at the BAC.” Borkar said that he has demanded a house committee and white paper on Mhadei.
The state government has also decided to discuss the Mhadei issue with former MLAs of the state on January 20, to come out with a solution on the issue.