21 Goa Oppn MLAs protest on Parliament Street against Rane

New Delhi, Aug 10 (UNI) As many as 21 Opposition members of the 40-member Goa Legislative Assembly demonstrated on Parliament Street today against Speaker Pratapsinh Rane ''having blocked a democratic exercise to remove the Digambar Kamat Government.'' The demonstration by the Goa Democratic Alliance (GDA) to build up pressure coincided with the start of the Monsoon Session of Parliament. It was addressed by senior NDA leaders L K Advani and Rajnath Singh.

Former Chief Minister and GDA leader Manohar Parrikar demanded the dismissal of the Kamat Government, saying it was a'' minority regime that was being kept alive through artificial means.'' The Alliance includes 14 MLAs of the BJP, two of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), two of the Save Goa Front, one of the United Goa Democratic Front and one Independent.

Participating in the rally was Congress dissident MLA Victoria Fernandes whose resignation reduced the strength of the House to 39.

Mr Advani said that by preventing the two MGP legislators from participating in the vote of confidence, Speaker Rane had failed to maintain the decorum of his office. ''His behaviour was contrary to the sort of protection of democratic rights people expect from holders of constitutional posts.'' Mr Rajnath Singh said the Congress had ''always acted in a dictatorial manner, murdering democracy whenever it got a chance.'' Among others who took part in the rally were JD (U) chief Sharad Yadav, Shiv Sena's Manohar Joshi, BJD's B J Panda and BJP's Goa in-charge Rajiv Pratap Rudy.

UNI