PANAJI: The five-day budget session of the Goa Legislative Assembly beginning Monday, February 3 is likely to be stormy with the Opposition parties gearing up to corner the State government on various issues including Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Mhadei river, government recruitment, among others. The Opposition parties are working out a strategy to remain united and coordinate closely to raise important issues pertaining to the State. Speaking to GT, Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat said, “We will co-ordinate with all the Opposition parties and raise all the important issues in the House and try to corner the government on every issue.” The Goa Forward Party (GFP) has already announced that it will table 15 calling attention notices in the upcoming session on important issues and also demand short duration discussion on three issues - Mhadei, Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)/National Register of Citizens (NRC) and reservation for Scheduled Tribes (ST) communities in the Assembly. “We will try to have as much co-ordination as possible with the Opposition and try to expose the government on various fronts,” said GFP president and MLA Vijai Sardesai. Sardesai has also said that they will ask for short duration discussion of two-and-a-half hours on three issues - Mhadei, CAA/NRC and ST reservation for Assembly. Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) supremo Ramakrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar said, “On certain issues which are very important and common including Mhadei and mining, I will closely co-ordinate will the other Opposition parties. We will work out a strategy and go together as progressive Opposition.”
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is expected to present the State Budget on February 6. He has said that he will try to present the State Budget on lines with the Union Budget presented by Union Finance Minister on February 1. Sawant has said that the Private University Bill and IPB Amendment Bill will be introduced in the Assembly. The Goa Legislature department has received as many as 814 legislative assembly questions (LAQs) including 205 starred questions and 609 unstarred questions. There will be discussion on motion of thanks to Governor's address for three days while, Friday has been reserved as Private Members day.