GFP MLA Vijay Sardesai responds to the notice of speaker in Assembly

Panaji, 10 : Vijai Sardesai on Tuesday responded in the Goa Legislative Assembly after Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar had asked him to apologise within 24 hours over the incident that occurred in the Assembly gallery on Friday.

Sardesai said that he respects the Speaker and considers him an ideal in a democratic House. He added that during his fourteen years as an MLA, he has served both in the government and the opposition and has also held positions as a Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, which has given him a clear understanding of the functioning of the House.

He further stated that as a people’s representative, it is his duty to address the concerns of all Goans. MLAs are given the right to issue passes to members of the public, and he had issued such passes. However, he said he cannot control the behaviour of those who receive them and had no knowledge of their conduct or intentions.

“If I had known about their behaviour, would I have given them the pass? I could have even asked someone else to issue the pass,” Sardesai said.

He added that while MLAs have the authority to issue passes, the final authority to allow people inside the Assembly lies with the Speaker. Sardesai also said that if MLAs are expected to take responsibility for the behaviour of pass holders, the Assembly should discuss the matter and frame a specific rule or law regarding it.