Goa Assembly adjourned sine die amid noisy scenes

Panaji, Mar 24 (UNI) Goa Legislative Assembly, which held a five-day budget session, was adjourned sine die today amid noisy protests from the BJP Opposition.

The House had earlier hurriedly passed a motion congratulating Ms Sonia Gandhi for resigning as a member of Parliament and chairperson of National Advisory Council, amid hue and cry by the BJP Opposition which stormed into the well of the House and raised slogans against the ''partisan attitude of the Speaker.'' The motion, moved by GPCC president Ravi Naik, said, ''She had set yet another example for the people and the leaders of the country by displaying rare committment to moral values.'' The house again witnessed noisy scenes with the BJP grilling Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane for not allowing to hold the traditional Shigmo festival parade in the trouble-torn Curchorem area, though Mr Rane said it was done at the advice of the police intelligence and revenue departments as ''uneasy calm prevailed there.'' With the Opposition not relenting, speaker Francisco Sardinha announced adjournment of the House sine die, asking the members to sing national anthem.

The brief session had passed a four-month 'vote-on-account budget', besides a few bills including 'The Goa Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Bill' as per the recommendations of the tenth Finance Commission.

The budget, which allocated more than 50 per cent of the funds for social sector, was considered popular in tune with the aspirations of the Congress and the UPA Government policies, with more stress on infrastructure development and employment generation.

The House, however, referred to a Select House Committee 'The Goa Legislative Diploma (amendment) Bill', which authorises communidates to lease out their lands for implementation of various Government schemes and projects.

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