The last day of the Monsoon session of the Goa legislative assembly on Friday saw chaotic scenes and heated exchanges between the government and the opposition leading to disruptions of proceedings. The opposition MLAs rushed to the well of the house to protest against the government’s act of bulldozing key legislative bills without allowing fair discussion.
Later in the evening, the opposition also staged a walkout as the speaker did not accept their demand to refer the bills to a select committee.
Leader of the opposition and Congress MLAs Digambar Kamat said the crucial bills cannot be passed in a haste. “On three occasions, we asked the speaker that the bills should be referred to the select committee. Such crucial bills cannot be passed in a haste without discussion,” said Kamat.
Independent MLA from Porvorim Rohan Khaunte said that the government had been negligent enough to discuss and debate the primary issues.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that all the bills passed in the assembly session are in the interest of the state and its people and these bills will be implemented within six months.
The government passed various bills including The Goa Mineral Development Corporation Bill, The Goa Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill, The Goa Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Bill, The Goa Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, India International University of Legal Education and Research of the Bar Council of India Trust of Goa Bill, The Goa Investment Promotion and Facilitation of Single Window Clearance Bill, The Goa Housing Board (Amendment) Bill, The Agriculture Produce and Livestock Marketing (Promotion and facilitation) Amendment Bill, The Goa Laws (Amendment) Bill, The Goa Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Bill, The Goa Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill, The Goa Shops and Establishment (Amendment) Bill, The Goa Agriculture Tenancy (Amendment) Bill, The Goa (Regulation of Film Shooting) Bill, The Goa Public Lighting Duty Bill, The Goa Public Gambling (Amendment) Bill.