Porvorim: A day after speaker Ganesh Gaonkar directed Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai to tender an unconditional apology for visitors he issued passes to protesting in the House on March 6 against the Mirabag bandhara, Sardesai tendered the apology on Tuesday.Sardesai, prior to issuing the apology, said that he had the right to be heard and said that he had no inkling that the visitors would behave in such a manner, even though passes had been issued through his office to them to attend the session. Sardesai said that the inquiry had been conducted behind his back.“I have issued passes, but the principles of law demand that one checks what my intention is. If I had the intention, I would not have issued the pass. But regardless of my intention, if it has contributed to an incident which has disrespected the integrity and dignity of the chair of the House, I fully own up to this morally. I place my unconditional apology and regret the same,” said Sardesai. However, he said that if members have to hold responsibility from now on for the behaviour of those who have been issued visitor’s passes through the MLA, then the House should call a discussion on the same and amend the rules of the House accordingly.“I have been a legislator for 14 years. I have been in opposition, a minister, and deputy CM. I understand the seriousness of the duties of the House while it is in session. Today I have been accused of disruption in the proceedings of the session based on an inquiry which was unfortunately held behind my back. There is a fundamental principle of law that noone should be condemned without hearing them first,” said Sardesai.“The inquiry is only suggestive that passes were issued by my staff. I do not deny this at all. However, the conclusion arrived at is wholly unwarranted and uncalled for,” he said.Sardesai added, “It is a right given by you to us to issue passes to visitors to attend sessions. Exercise of this right cannot be faulted. The rules of business of this House neither frowns on such issuance nor holds the issuance responsible for subsequent conduct of the invitees. I had issued the pass but I cannot take responsibility for how these invitees behave for the House does not say I should take such responsibility”.“I would like to clarify that I did not foresee any disruptive action which would take place. I had no knowledge of the intention of those people when they requested the passes,” he said.“The inquiry of the chair does not suggest that I instigated this,” he said. “In today’s day and age, we politicians can always be the victim of a conspiracy to tarnish our image. If I had (wanted) to create this confusion, would I have issued the passes in my name? You will admit that I have that much sense. You should give me that much credit. I would not have left a trail of clues.”
