PANAJI: Goa Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai has summoned the eighth State Legislative Assembly on February 6-7, 2025.
The Governor will address the House on Feb 6 while the only day for the Question Hour and Private Member Business is slated for February 7.
The opposition has condemned the decision for a short winter session of the assembly with Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao calling it a mockery of democracy.
“Summoning assembly session for two days is not only a mockery of democracy, but it is a clear indication that BJP government is afraid to face pressing issues and is trying to further undermine democratic principles,” he said.
Goa Forward Party President Vijai Sardesai pointed fingers at recent scams stating the short session is an escape route for the government to not reply to these issues.
“By holding the Assembly for just 2 days- effectively 1 day…Goa government has killed Democracy as its first official act of the new year. Reeling under a mountain of unprecedented public loot and unforgivable wrongdoings, including the Land grab and the Jobs for cash scams, the government has publicly admitted its guilt by strangling the voice of the people’s opposition in the Assembly. This cowardly escape act not only points to the culpability of the ruling party MLAs but also exposes the dirty tricks that Goemkars must expect from the BJP Goa in the new year,” he said.
Aam Aadmi Party state president Advocate Amit Palekar, alongside Benaulim MLA Captain Venzy Viegas also condemned the BJP government’s decision to restrict the rights of the opposition and urged all IAS officers and bureaucrats to exert pressure on the government to extend the assembly session to a minimum of fifteen days.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will present the State budget 2025-26 in the budget session in March.