NT Reporter
Panaji
Goa Legislative Assembly Speaker Ganesh Gaonkar said that the restriction on the entry of persons who held a protest in the visitors’ gallery of the Assembly over the Mirabag bandhara project shall continue until further orders.
“The House may recall the incident that occurred on March 6 when certain persons seated in the
visitors’ gallery raised slogans and displayed posters, thereby causing disturbance to the proceedings of the House and affecting the dignity and decorum
of this August Assembly,” he said.
He said that the matter was viewed with utmost seriousness by him, as
such acts within the precincts of the House have the potential to interfere with the orderly conduct of the business of the House and may amount to a breach of privilege and contempt of the House.
He said that he held consultations with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who is also the Home Minister, to examine the matter in its entirety and to ensure that an appropriate course of action is taken in the larger interest of preserving the dignity and decorum of this House while upholding democratic values.
He also said that, taking into consideration the unconditional apology tendered by MLA Vijai Sardesai, a senior member of the House, he has accepted the apology tendered by the member.
“However, to uphold the dignity and decorum of the House, the restriction on the entry of the said persons into the precincts of the Assembly shall continue until further orders. I hope that this decision will serve as a reminder to all concerned that the sanctity and decorum of this House must always be respected,” the Speaker said.
