Panaji: As BJP-led govt lines up 13 bills for passage in the three-day monsoon session, opposition parties want to force a discussion on unregulated land conversion in the state.Govt wants to bring in bills pertaining to reforms and to increase the budgetary allocation for departments, said chief minister Pramod Sawant on Friday after the business advisory committee meeting.“The bills will be introduced on the first day and passed on the second day. These bills will be passed in the assembly and there are routine questions for discussions. It is the speaker’s right to decide which ones to take up and which ones not to,” said Sawant.Assembly speaker Ganesh Gaonkar, who chaired the BAC meeting insisted that he would remain neutral and permit the opposition to speak in the House. He said there was a request from the opposition for a discussion on 39A but remained non-committal.“Some of the members have given written representation for short duration discussions and I have requested them that we should have a constructive discussion. We will look at the importance of the issues and then we will put them up in the House,” said the speaker.He said that the House would decide how much time needs to be allotted for discussions.“I have told all the parties that first the question hour must progress properly and after that we can have discussions on the subjects. There is zero hour, calling attention and other tools that can be used to raise concerns,” said Gaonkar.However, leader of the opposition Yuri Alemao said, “This assembly session is a ritual, a namesake for govt to pass its business. We have repeatedly asked for the session to be lengthy. This dadagiri was seen in the way they passed the state budget without a discussion.”Alemao said that the opposition has asked the speaker to permit a discussion on the state’s deteriorating law and order situation.“The speaker has acknowledged our request and given us an assurance that he will give us time to raise our issues on the floor of the House. People should make time and come here to the assembly and watch what is happening,” said AAP MLA Venzy Viegas.RGP MLA Viresh Borkar, who has also pressed for a discussion on Section 39A of the TCP Act, said that the speaker has agreed to be neutral and allow the opposition to speak.The opposition has also asked the speaker to allocate one day for private members’ resolutions, which has been ruled out.
