By IANS,
Panaji : The Goa assembly met for just 20 days in 2008, a drop from 34 days it was in session five years back, said Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar.
“This cannot do. The government and the business advisory committees need to act. From 34 days in 2003, the number of days for which the assembly is convened has shrunk to 20 in 2008,” said the BJP leader, who started the debate on the governor’s address on the first day of the winter session Monday.
Parrikar said the fall in the number of business days had diluted the importance of the legislative assembly.
“What is the meaning of these five-day sessions? We have to ensure that the house is in session for at least 40 days annually,” he said.
Ruling party legislator Dayanand Narvekar also questioned the government over the reduction in the number of days the assembly had met.
“This is a mockery of the democratic system. The MLAs are not accountable to the people anymore. The assembly has become an academic exercise,” the Congress legislator said.
Governor S.S. Sidhu had started the winter session of the assembly by delivering the governor’s address, which will be discussed over the next three days.
The session is expected to see nearly 237 starred and 676 un-starred questions. Some of the significant bills that will be moved during the week-long session include the Goa Industrial Development (amendment) bill, the Goa Administrative Tribunal (amendment) Bill and the Goa Rent Control (amendment) bill.
The chief opposition party, the BJP, has announced that it will raise during the session the issue of de-notification of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and corruption during the organisation of the International Film Festival.