That insane and contemptuous Bhumiputra legislation is the biggest insult that this government could have inflicted on the very identity of Goa and Goans. The power intoxicated ruling party has obviously lost its mental balance and is stooping to unimaginable levels while dragging the remains of Goa to the gutters.
As any legislation that is enacted has far reaching effects on the State and its people, there must be a detailed and thorough debate on the pros and cons of every law that is contemplated.
We elect Legislators to debate issues concerning the people and to enact good laws. The Assembly is the democratic forum where elected representatives of the people must hold debates on matters that affect the people. It should afford an opportunity for members to discuss the intricacies of government policy, proposed new laws and topical issues of the day. Debates are designed to assist MLAs to reach an informed decision on a subject.
Curtailing to mere three days the duration of the just concluded session of the Goa Legislative Assembly was a very highhanded wrong move that did not augur well in the framework of democracy. Besides in this current Pandemic, Goa is grappling with so many very serious issues and the Legislative Assembly should have been a proper and appropriate forum for the MLAs to raise and debate issues concerning the public. Sessions of the Legislative Assembly have to be meaningful and fruitful in the interest of the State and not merely a cosmetic exercise aimed at fulfilling that constitutional requirement.
It is imperative that there should be a free and fair meaningful debate without bulldozing legislations through. Stifling debate by a lack-lustre, ill-informed Assembly only leads to the current malaise and downward spiral we find ourselves in and it is absolutely anti-democratic. It ignores the aspirations and best interests of the people and leads to a more dictatorial style of government with poor laws, lack of accountability, scrutiny and transparency. It erodes any trust that the public may have in their MLAs.
If elected lawmakers can be so uncaring and abdicate their sacred and democratic duties how can they expect other institutions of Government and the people to respect the poorly enacted laws that they legislate?
In a way we deserve the political rot because sadly we knowingly elect MLAs who are by the people, of the people but definitely NOT for the people.
