Wary of Goa Congress ‘defection’, Opposition gives BJP walkover in deputy Speaker poll

The Indian Express | 1 day ago | 23-07-2022 | 11:40 am

The Congress might have averted the “defection” of its MLAs in Goa, but the party continues to battle other Opposition parties’ allegations of its legislators’ possible bid to jump ship in the coming days.This again came into focus Friday during the election of the Deputy Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly, with the ruling BJP’s MLA Joshua D’Souza getting elected for the post.While 24 of the state’s total 40 MLAs voted for Joshua, the Opposition’s candidate for the post, Congress MLA Delilah Lobo, could secure just 12 of the total 15 MLAs in their camp.Two MLAs from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva, and a Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) MLA, Viresh Borkar, abstained from voting, disapproving of Delilah’s nomination by the Opposition.This came a day after the BJP-led NDA’s Presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu, who clinched her election easily, garnered 28 votes from Goa despite the strength of the BJP and its supporting MLAs being 25.The allegations of cross-voting in the Presidential election flew thick and fast among the Opposition parties after the results were declared on Thursday evening. The MLAs who abstained from voting for the Deputy Speaker on Friday, however, showed their distrust of the Congress.Less than a fortnight ago, the Congress had accused two of its senior legislators, Digambar Kamat and Micheal Lobo, of allegedly engineering the defection of at least eight of the party’s 11 MLAs to the BJP, charging that they had hatched this conspiracy with the saffron party.Subsequently, the Congress removed Lobo as the leader of its Legislature Party and filed petitions seeking the disqualification of Lobo and Kamat as MLAs for “anti-party” activities.On Thursday, Lobo’s wife Delilah filed her nomination as the Opposition’s candidate for the Deputy Speaker’s election, held in the state Assembly, which saw 11 Congress MLAs along with the Goa Forward Party’s legislator Vijai Sardesai standing up to oppose D’Sousa’s candidature.Ahead of the election on Friday, however, AAP MLA Silva said: “Nobody consulted us. They just filled the form, there was no meeting. When the Speaker’s election was held all parties had sat together and decided on a candidate. But this time no one was informed.” His colleague Viegas said, “When they (Congress) are not together, how will they call for a joint meeting? We are going to abstain from voting.”RGP MLA Borkar said, “Nobody approached us regarding the Opposition candidate (for Deputy Speaker). We are in Opposition and we will remain in Opposition. But she is Micheal Lobo’s wife and if she jumps party tomorrow, people will say that RGP had supported her. We have no trust in any Congress MLAs. We don’t know whether they will stay (in their party) or not.”Referring to the Presidential poll in which Murmu received three votes more than expected, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said, “Even if we are 25 (MLAs) in ruling (camp), we’ve got three votes from the Opposition as well. I congratulate them too for this.”Goa Transport minister Mauvin Godinho said, “Even Opposition is drawn like a magnet (to Murmu) and we have got three more votes than we expected.”After the declaration of the Presidential poll results Thursday night, the Opposition parties traded cross-voting allegations while questioning the Congress’s claims of being “united”.A day later, following the Deputy Speaker’s election, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Amit Patkar, tweeted: “Cross Voting during Presidential Elections reflected today during Election of Deputy Speaker. A & B Team of @BJP4India stands exposed. After all its AAPkaBJPparivar. Mystery of 3 votes stands solved.”The AAP’s Goa convenor Amit Palekar, however, said, “We have not sought disqualification of our own MLAs. Congress needs to clean up its house first. The Congress has smeared muck all over Goa politics along with the ruling party (BJP). Everyone knows who these three people are (cross voters). We have earlier also advised the Congress to get its house in order. Nobody has the right to question the integrity of our MLAs.”Palekar also said that the AAP abstained from Friday voting because they thought it was “inappropriate” to support a candidate (Delilah Lobo) who, he charged, was likely to switch parties.

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Congress attacks Smriti Irani over Goa bar; she hits back, dares Rahul Gandhi

The Indian Express | 11 hours ago | 24-07-2022 | 12:40 am

The Indian Express

11 hours ago | 24-07-2022 | 12:40 am

Accusing her daughter of running a restaurant-bar in Goa “illegally”, with the licence procured “fraudulently” in the name of a deceased person, the Congress Saturday demanded resignation of Union minister Smriti Irani. Calling it a “malicious” accusation, Irani hit back, saying that her daughter was the target only because “her mother does press conferences against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi”.“The allegation that my daughter runs an illegal bar is malicious with the intent not only to assassinate her character but also to politically malign me,” Irani said.She added: “And to the Gandhi family, which directed that this press conference [by Congress] be held against my child, I tell you this, send Rahul Gandhi back to fight the Lok Sabha election in 2024 from Amethi and he will lose again. That is my promise as a BJP worker and as a mother to that 18-year-old. I will see them in the court of law.”In a statement, her daughter’s lawyer, Kirat Nagra, said his client was neither an owner nor operating the restaurant in question, Silly Souls Café and Bar in North Goa’s Assagao.These remarks came after Congress leaders showed a show-cause notice issued to the bar and alleged that the Excise Department official who issued the notice is reportedly being transferred under pressure. Nagra stated that his client had not received any show-cause notice from any authority whatsoever.Addressing the media in Delhi, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said: “In Goa, a restaurant run by her daughter, it has a bar…it is accused of procuring a licence fraudulently. The licence is in the name of a person who died in May 2021 and…was procured in June (2022). In the name of that person, Smriti Irani’s daughter took the licence.”Goa Excise Commissioner Narayan M Gad had issued a show-cause notice to Silly Souls Café and Bar on July 21 based on a complaint filed by lawyer Aires Rodrigues, who alleged that the eatery’s liquor licence was renewed in the name of one Anthony Dgama — his death certificate, issued by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, was annexed to Rodrigues’s complaint.Gad had sought a reply from the restaurant in seven days.In Panaji, state Congress chief Amit Patkar addressed the media and showed a video clip of a purported show in which Irani’s daughter was interviewed as a “young entrepreneur”, and Silly Souls introduced as “her restaurant.”Nagra said that Irani’s daughter “has no control or oversight into the management and affairs of the eatery and her limited interaction at the facility was only while doing an internship program with the chef of Silly Souls Café.”In Delhi, Irani said, “An 18-year-old child, a college student, her character today was assassinated by Congressmen…. They claim that the mutilations stemmed from a show cause notice. I want to ask that Congressperson where is the name of my daughter in the papers that he flashed?”She also said: “It is done at the directions, as was obviously stated by Pawan Khera, of the Congress leadership, namely the Gandhi family, because I had the audacity to hold a press conference to question Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi for the (Rs) 5,000 crore loot of the Indian treasury [in the national herald case’….So the gentlemen who sat there, giggled as they assassinated my daughter’s character, I will see you in the court of law and in the court of the people….”(Inputs from PTI, Delhi)

Differences in non-BJP camp family quarrel; enough time for Mamata to change mind: Margaret Alva

The Indian Express | 13 hours ago | 23-07-2022 | 10:40 pm

The Indian Express

13 hours ago | 23-07-2022 | 10:40 pm

The Opposition’s vice presidential candidate Margaret Alva Saturday described the prevailing situation in the non-BJP camp as a “family quarrel”, but asserted they are clear they don’t want a one-party rule and were working to “sink the differences” and unite for the 2024 challenge.The 80-year-old Alva, who faces an uphill task in the August 6 vice presidential poll, also said the Opposition was clear in its intention that the Constitution has to be defended and democratic institutions protected.In an interview to PTI, the former governor said, “The tragedy of today’s democratic system is that the mandate of people does not prevail and muscle and money power, and threats change the composition of the elected framework.” On frequent disruptions seen in Parliament, the multi-term parliamentarian said these interruptions were happening because the Chair was “unable to work out compromises” and consider the Opposition’s viewpoint.“How can a democracy function with the government slogan seemingly being ‘my way or no way’.” Alva has been fielded by the Opposition for the vice presidential poll contest against the ruling NDA’s Jagdeep Dhankhar, but the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress has announced it will abstain from the election. Alva admitted she was “aghast at the announcement” the TMC would abstain.“Mamata has been leading the entire movement to unite the opposition,” Alva said. “She has been my friend for many years and I believe that there is enough time for her to change her mind.” On Saturday, Alva met Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal to seek his support for her vice presidential bid.On dynastic politics, which has been frequently been deprecated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a threat to democracy, Alva said there is nothing wrong in children of politicians coming in. “But they have to win elections and the confidence of people and be accepted.” Alva, a former Congress general secretary, had questioned the denial of a party ticket to her son in the 2008 Karnataka elections when wards of leaders in other states had been accommodated.On her rival Dhankhar’s tenure as West Bengal governor, she said there is a ‘Lakshman Rekha’ a Raj Bhawan occupant needs to respect. “It is unethical and unconstitutional to function as a party representative when holding the constitutional office.”Downplaying the apparent cracks in the Opposition betrayed by the cross-voting in the presidential poll on July 18, Alva said, “Opposition parties are making efforts to sink their differences and work together before the general elections. I think they feel the need and the urgency of finding a common platform to face the challenge of 2024. There might be ups and downs, differences but the intention is clear, they are concerned and they want to make a point. The Constitution has to be defended and democratic institutions have to be protected. We do not want a one-party rule.” The veteran Congress leader, who has spent nearly 50 years in politics, said the differences in the Opposition bloc were “like a family quarrel” which would be resolved.“We will sit and sort it out,” she said, adding “She (Mamata) is very much part of us and her basic ideology is that of the Congress. I always consider her one of us. I believe we can sit and sort out any differences that have arisen. She has been fighting the BJP all along. There is no way she can help the BJP win.” The Congress veteran, who has served as governor of Goa, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, also favoured consensus on the posts of president and vice president, saying the government should take the initiative and engage various parties and forge a common ground.On the status of democracy in the country, she said “it is not the mandate of the people that prevails” these days.“In various states, the mandate of the people is ignored and muscle power, money power and threats change the composition of the elected framework,” Alva said, citing the examples of Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.She added, “Today, it is frightening when I look around. It’s a different world altogether. You cannot eat what you want, you cannot wear what you want, you cannot say what you want, you cannot even meet people what you want. What is this time?” She said parliamentary disruptions are unfortunate.“The point is why are there disruptions?” she asked. “It is because the Chair is unable to work out compromises and work out a way by which the point of view of the opposition and their demands for discussion and debate can be worked into the agenda of the house.” “You can’t just pass 22 bills in 12 minutes, without debate, without discussion, the opposition candidate said. “How can a democracy function like this? The government’s slogan seems to be either my way or no way. You don’t allow a discussion and you don’t want to hear a point of view which is different from yours. It is the people suffering outside — common people, the voter, the taxpayer.”Noting that she has been a governor and a lawyer — her vice presidential poll rival Dhankhar has also served as governor and lawyer — she said, “He (Dhankhar) has been fighting a woman in the state (West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee) and now he is fighting another woman in the election. Something in his stars…” Alva said Dhankhar is “being rewarded” for the hard political stance he took as West Bengal governor.“I have also been a governor and you are supposed to be non-partisan. You are supposed to help your government function. There is a Lakshman Rekha, which you have to keep in mind once you are in the Raj Bhawan. You can’t sit there and function as the representative of your party. I think it is unethical and unconstitutional.” Speaking about her own journey, Alva said Indira Gandhi was her political mentor.“Indira ji handpicked me for Parliament, but my in-laws helped me grow.” The numbers in the electoral college are heavily against Alva, but she said in democracy it was important to accept the challenge, notwithstanding the considerations of victory or loss. “Because the numbers are stacked against us, should we not fight the election?” “I think in a democratic system, win or loss, you have to accept the challenge and place your point of view before your MPs who are now the electoral college. We have a different point of view from the government and the need is for those who are on a common platform to accept the challenge,” Alva said.The veteran leader also pointed to her struggles saying she has come up the ladder of politics — from block level to being MP, minister and governor – all by the virtue of “hard work, commitment and clean politics”.“This is another chapter,” said Alva, who had returned to Bengaluru to settle, but returned when called upon by the Opposition to fight the August 6 election.

Lok Sabha clears Antarctic Bill, this session’s first

The Indian Express | 1 day ago | 22-07-2022 | 10:40 pm

The Indian Express

1 day ago | 22-07-2022 | 10:40 pm

The Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022, which seeks to extend the jurisdiction of Indian courts to the icy continent, became the first Bill Friday to be cleared by the Lok Sabha during the ongoing monsoon session of the Parliament.Earth Sciences Minister Jitendra Singh tabled the Bill, which is set to become the first domestic legislation with regard to Antarctica in India, amid protests by the Opposition demanding discussions on price rise.The Bill seeks to give effect to the Antarctic Treaty, which was signed in 1959 by 12 countries. It was implemented in 1961, and India, which has two permanent scientific stations Matri and Bharti in the continent, became a signatory to it in 1983.“The fundamental objective of the treaty is demilitarisation of Antarctica. The signatories are supposed to bring laws so that no activity in contravention of the treaty takes place. The law is supposed to take care of any violations, offer solutions and fix appropriate punishment,” Singh said.Apart from extending the jurisdiction of Indian courts to Antarctica for investigation and trial for crimes committed on the Arctic continent, the Bill also introduces regulations to ensure that scientific missions or commercial expeditions do not harm the ecology of the continent.Participating in a brief discussion on the Bill, BJP MP Jayant Sinha said, “India is a coastal country. Goa, Mumbai, Kolkata, Kochi, Chennai and many such places are located along the coast. Any rise in the sea level due to melting of glaciers may cause damage through flooding. That’s why it is essential to understand the impact of global warming on Antarctica.”Lending his support, BJD MP Bhartruhari Mahtab said the bill aims at promoting Antarctica as a natural reserve that is devoted to science and peace, and to ensure that Antarctica does not become the scene of international discord.“That is the basic purpose for which this Bill is being introduced and I believe, cutting across party lines, everybody should support this Bill,” he said, criticising the Opposition parties for carrying out protests during discussions on it.Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha, said the Opposition also wants to participate in the discussions on the Bill, but the government should first convene a meeting of the floor leaders to address the demands for a discussion on price rise.“The situation of the Indian economy has also become like Antractica,” Chowdhury said. The Congress MP later staged a walkout with a couple of other members.

Presidential polls: Cross-voting for Murmu bares cracks in Opposition unity

The Indian Express | 2 days ago | 22-07-2022 | 05:40 am

The Indian Express

2 days ago | 22-07-2022 | 05:40 am

As counting of votes in the Presidential election concluded Thursday, it became clear that NDA candidate Droupadi Murmu’s spectacular win had also been helped by some cross-voting. It was also proof of the division and confusion in Opposition ranks over thwarting the first tribal woman’s bid to occupy the highest office in the country.The ruling BJP claimed that 17 MPs from the two Houses of Parliament and 126 MLAs from states defied respective party lines and voted for Murmu. Many regional parties, despite their political reservations against the BJP, had indicated their willingness to see Murmu in Rashtrapati Bhavan.She bagged 2824 of the total 4701 valid votes, leaving just 1877 votes for the Opposition’s Yashwant Sinha.Murmu secured 64.03 per cent of the total valid votes, less than what outgoing President Ram Nath Kovind got in 2017 — 65.65 per cent of the total votes polled. But the divide and bitterness then was the Modi government was just three years into its first term.According to BJP leaders, 10 MLAs in Gujarat, 22 in Assam, 12 in Uttar Pradesh and 4 in Goa cross-voted for Murmu. The details will be available only after a thorough assessment of the state-wise voting pattern.With Sinha failing to get the expected votes, there is a question mark on Opposition unity. But leaders of Opposition parties pointed out that many among them had no choice except to stand with Murmu to protect their tribal support base.Murmu secured the support of the entire House in Andhra Pradesh, Nagaland and Sikkim because Sinha drew a blank in these states. She even managed one vote from Kerala, a state where the BJP could not win a single seat in the Assembly or in the Lok Sabha polls.In Telangana, a state where the BJP hopes to emerge as an alternative, the NDA candidate could manage only 3 votes while Sinha bagged 113 votes.The number of invalid votes also came down from 77 in 2017 to 53 this election.While the counting was on, BJP leaders claimed that Murmu would win the election with almost 70 per cent of the votes in the electoral college.But the BJP and allies losing power in key states like Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu and the drop in its seat tally in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat seem to have contributed to the fall in the votes for the NDA candidate. For example, in 2017, Kovind received 166 votes in Rajasthan which dropped to 75; in Tamil Nadu where its ally AIADMK was defeated by the DMK, it fell from 134 to 75; in Maharashtra, from 280 to 181; in Gujarat, it dropped from 132 to 121; in Madhya Pradesh from 171 to 146; and in Punjab where the AAP stormed to power, the NDA candidate could manage only 8 votes as against 18 in 2017.Buy Now | Our best subscription plan now has a special priceIn states like West Bengal where the BJP emerged stronger in the last elections, Murmu got 71 votes — it was just 11 in 2017. In Karnataka, the tally went up from 56 to 150. In 2017, Kovind had the backing of 522 MPs while 540 MPs backed Murmu.

Learn to live with past, don’t try to rewrite history, Sardesai tells govt

Times of India | 2 days ago | 22-07-2022 | 04:35 am

Times of India

2 days ago | 22-07-2022 | 04:35 am

Panaji: Questioning the motive behind the state government’s decision to recover documents from Portugal, Goa Forward Party president Vijai Sardesai said that the BJP-led government needs to accept Goa’s “rich past” even if they don’t like it. Speaking in the state legislative assembly on Thursday, the Fatorda MLA wondered if BJP wanted to rewrite Goa’s history. He said that the government should stop looking for aspects that “may or may not exist” in Goa’s ancient history. “We know that we have a rich past. Whether we like our past or not, we have to preserve what we have. We have to live with it. We can’t neglect it. We do not have to search for something that may or may not exist,” said Sardesai while speaking on the motion to cut grants to the archives and archaeology department. Sardesai, who also served as the minister for archives and archaeology earlier, urged the government to protect and create awareness about Goa’s history without trying to stoke tensions between different religions. In June, Sawant said his government would seek to get back the historical documents about the state which are in the possession of Portuguese authorities and which could “reveal secrets” about Goa. “There is a feeling that documents are sought from Portugal for reasons other than appreciation of history. Some feel that this is to stoke communal tensions,” said Sardesai. “You need to invest in history for the love of learning about our past. Don’t invest in it to rewrite history and the past for the sake of fulfilling an agenda.” Sardesai asked minister for archives and archaeology Subhash Phal Dessai to provide clarity about the government’s intentions. “There is no light at the end of the tunnel. There is a need for clarity,” said Sardesai.

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