Goa Forward Party Chief Vijai Sardesai took on Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and the Govt on the floor of the assembly for the Governor’s failure to highlight the ongoing issue of coal in his address.Sardesai said when whole of Goa is burning on this issue, there is not a single word mentioned by the Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari in his customary address.
Vijai appealed to the Speaker Rajesh Patnekar to hold discussion on coal first, before conducting any other business in the assembly. The Fatorda MLA said If we need to save Goa for our future generations, we should say no to coal today. Saying that he had just glanced through the Governor’s speech and that there is not a single word on coal. He said “People have died in Vasco due to this coal, even couple of MLAs from the treasury benches have objected to the coal handling and its transportation in the State. But the Government just wants to bulldoze the voice of the opposition & of the people of Goa.”
The GFP Chief pointed out that Pramod Sawant made the Governor to cut short his speech to thwart a full demonstration by Opposition on the coal and linear projects issue.My objection is simple why there is not a single word on the coal issue asked Vijai. On one side government is celebrating 60th year of Goa’s liberation and on the other side it is suppressing the voice of those who have come together to Save Goa Now said Vijai.
Sardesai further said that it is clearly evident now that BJP Govt is holding this assembly session just for the sake of it. There is no justifiable reason why Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari stopped his speech said Vijai. He said that the Govt has been exposed completely today on the floor of the house and was not able to deliver what it had in its mind.
Vijai said that we have one of the most corrupt Govt in the history of Goa that too when state is celebrating its 60th year of liberation. He said that time has come for Goans now to get re-liberated from the Coal-inization of Goa. He reiterated that Goa Forward Party along with other opposition colleagues would expose this government on the floor of the house.
Later Speaking to reporters Sardesai said “ I do not represent the governor, I represent the people of Goa. This session is a farce, for IFFI both the governor and the CM could speak – but on important matters such as COVID-19, Mollem, coal and online exams – this government has gone silent.” The GFP Chief stated that the delayed winter session is a mockery, and the government is abusing the excuse of COVID-19.
