BJP does not favour President's Rule in Goa

New Delhi, Aug 1 (UNI) The BJP today asserted that the Goa Democratic Alliance, headed by former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, must be invited to form a government in the state.

The two MGP legislators who were denied participation in the Motion of Confidence in Goa Assembly on July 30, meanwhile, moved the Supreme Court which listed the case for August 6.

BJP spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy said 18 GDA legislators would move another petition in the apex court tomorrow in which a plea would be made to direct Goa Governor S C Jamir to ask the Speaker to direct the Digamber Kamat Ministry to again prove its majority on the floor of the House.

To a question, he said the BJP was against imposition of President's Rule in the State and asserted that in the present scenario GDA must be invited to form the government as it had a clear majority.

He alleged that Speaker Pratapsinh Rane acted on the behest of Congress President Sonia Gandhi on July 30 and was responsible for a serious constitutional impropriety in the Goa Assembly. Mr Rane, a Congressman, had been the Chief Minister of the state for 18 years.

The Speaker not only bypassed the Governor's direction but also barred the two MGP Legislators through an interim order without even giving them any hearing before the trial of strength on July 30, he said.

Moreover till date, no notice had been served on the two MLAs before restraining them to participate in the confidence vote. Copy of the disqualification notice moved by two Congressmen--Agnelo Fernandes and Chandrakant Kavlekar- had not been provided to the two MGP legislators, Mr Rudy said, adding that it showed malafide on the part of Mr Rane.

He said Mr Anil Salgaonkar, one of the legislators having allegiance to GDA, was seeking appointments with President Pratibha Patil and Home Minister Shivraj Patil. He had forwarded his request letters to the secretaries of both the President and the Home Minister.

UNI