Apologise for Mirabag protest in House in 24hrs: Speaker to Vijai

Porvorim: Goa assembly Speaker Ganesh Gaonkar on Monday said that on preliminary inquiry into the protests against the bhandara at Mirabag in the assembly on March 6 has found that the entire incident was orchestrated by Fatorda MLA and GFP president Vijai Sardesai. The Speaker said that before taking any action, he seeks an unconditional apology from Sardesai within 24 hours.

“Before taking any action, I call upon the honourable member Vijai Sardesai to tender an unconditional apology to this House within 24 hours from now, failing which appropriate action as per the rules of this House will be taken against the member,” the Speaker said.

Gaonkar also said that any platforms should take down claims that chief minister Pramod Sawant referred to anyone, including the protesters, as terrorists in the House. The Speaker said that verification of records showed that Sawant had not made any remark in the House.
The Speaker also banned entry to the assembly for the four protesters Hemant Bhandari, Umesh Naik, Upendra Naik and Apa Naik, along with Rithik Mandrekar, associated with Sardesai, who facilitated their entry into the assembly complex.


Gaonkar called the incident “very disturbing” and unprecedented”. He said that he personally verified the CCTV footage and saw the movement of the four protesters outside Sardesai’s office.

“On March 6, while honourable member Vijai Sardesai sought to move an adjournment motion on the issue of Mirabag bandhara, certain visitors in the gallery began raising slogans over the same issue. Upon investigation it has been found that the visitor passes for these four visitors were facilitated by honorable member Vijai Sardesai. I also personally verified the CCTV footage and observed suspicious movements of these visitors in the office of Sardesai as well as within the assembly complex,” said Gaonkar.
He said the timing of the untoward actions in the visitor’s gallery coinciding with the issue being raised by Sardesai “speaks volumes”.

“It is unfortunate that one of the senior members of this House has indulged in such an act. Also involvement of a former member of this House has come to light in this matter and the investigation of the same is being conducted. While the investigation is ongoing, it has also been noted that the four visitors who created nuisance in this House were seen publicly celebrating this grave illegal act and making comments on the functioning of the House. This too has been taken seriously and will invite appropriate action,” said Gaonkar.
Any person including any member of this House found to be involved in such external interference of this House shall invite action including proceedings for contempt, said the Speaker.

He said that additionally the statements made in the House especially by the chief minister have been twisted and falsely projected by certain individuals outside the House.

“Upon verification of the records it is clear that at no point the CM referred to anyone, including the four visitors as terrorists. Such a misrepresentation of proceedings of the House violates the privileges of the member concerned and amounts to contempt of the House. I issue stern warning to all such individuals to desist from such a acts and remove any such content from their platforms and failure to comply shall attract action,” Gaonkar said.
Responding to the speaker’s notice, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said, “I have got 24 hours to decide. I spoke on the budget in the House today.”

“The budget is a fraud; it's a bubble which will burst on any day. Even a page from the budget document was missing. I exposed them," he added.

To divert the focus, Sardesai said, “Speaker issued the order now (evening) which very well could have been issued in the morning.”

Sawant denied that he called the four protesters terrorists. “I did not call them terrorists. I said they should be arrested,” Sawant told reporters after Speaker Ganesh Gaonkar gave his order on the protests in the House. “I said, these type of incidents shouldn’t happen in the House.”

My statement, Sawant said was in response to the statement by Venzy (AAP MLA Venzy Viegas) that thousands of people will be called in the House. “I said not to propagate terrorism trend. I never said the Goans are terrorists,” he said.