Suspense over disqualification plea continues NT Staff Reporter Panaji Feb 19: The suspense over the disqualification petition against the Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Filipe Neri Rodrigues continues. Today’s hearing, where both the parties, Mr Rodrigues and the petitioner, Mr Sadanand Shet Tanavade, were ordered to appear in person before the Speaker, Mr Viswas Satarkar still persists with case being adjourned for final hearing at noon on Monday.
Speaking to reporters after today’s hearing, the Speaker said he would conclude the hearing on Monday but declined to say whether he would pass any order. Political developments in the near future in Goa hinge crucially on the Speaker’s order. If he disqualifies Mr Rodrigues, the strength of the Congress-combine equals the strength of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Then, in the vote of confidence, the Speaker — who is a BJP MLA — gets to cast his deciding vote. If he does not disqualify Mr Rodrigues, then the strength of the Congress-combine remains 18 to the BJP’s 17 and the Congress-combine wins the vote. Despite reports that the vote of confidence has been scheduled for February 24, no official confirmation was available. Mr Satarkar said he had called the two parties today for verification of signatures on various documents. Although he has completed the exercise and also recorded their statements, the lawyers for both wished to argue certain points before him and hence they will come to his chamber at 12 noon on Monday. Mr Tanavade and Mr Rodrigues are not required to attend. When asked about the motion of no confidence moved against him and the Deputy Speaker by the Congress, Mr Satarkar said the motion has lapsed due to two reasons. One was that the motion was filed prior to the summoning of the House. According to the rules, a motion like this has to be filed after the House is summoned. Secondly, under Rule 19 of the Rules of Procedures and Conduct of the Goa Legislative Assembly, since the House has been prorogued by the Governor, all pending notices lapse and fresh notices have to be filed before the new assembly, Mr Satarkar said. Mr Satarkar was also asked about the breach of privilege filed against Mr Rane for sitting on the Speaker’s chair after the House proceedings were over on February 2 vote of confidence and about the breach of privilege against the officer on special duty to the Governor, Mr Sebastian Zumva for issuing a press note attacking the Speaker’s conduct. He said these would be referred to the House privilege committee chaired by the Deputy Speaker. The committee would summon Mr Rane and Mr Zumva and pass orders as they deem fit within one week, Mr Satarkar said. In sharp contrast to the high drama that surrounded yesterday’s hearing, the ambience today was most peaceful. There were no police at the Porvorim secretariat complex, no supporters, not even party functionaries. While Mr Rodrigues went to the Speaker’s cabin much before 12 p.m., Mr Tanavade arrived at 12.30 p.m. Both were accompanied by their lawyers. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Mr Rodrigues said he had reiterated his stand that he had never signed any BJP membership form and that the signature on the form was not his. The form was in Marathi, a language that he neither spoke, wrote nor used for any purpose. He also said his middle name in the form has been misspelt and that even the name of his constituency was wrongly written. Mr Tanavade blasted the police for hounding him and his family yesterday. He said the police did not serve any summons to him, nor contact him on his mobile phone. Yet the police had repeatedly gone to his office and residences at Pirna, Mapusa and cross questioned his family members. “If they treat an MLA like this, how will they treat an ordinary party worker?” he asked. Mr Tanavade, however, said that following the Speaker’s order to the director-general of police yesterday, the same police were now giving him protection.
