AISI: Our 9 hours at Goa Legislative Assembly/Complex Entry Passes: There is a form to fill in and obtain any MLA’s signature on it. You will then be issued a pass. Best is to get it from your local MLA, as they have their own quota. We were there at 10.45 but we were refuse entry saying it is too early. Then we came back after 11 and at 11.15 all gallery seating full up. They say there is no room to accommodate 25 old members of public (including us 3) with valid entry passes with mention of respective block number on it.
The situation there reminded me of Indian Railways General Compartment/bogie Where any number of tickets are issued e.g. for a 71 seater bogie over 200 tickets issued. Public Galleries: There are in all 6, one of which reserved for the Press http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk27/4868285202/ but press or media men seen in all galleries. Each gallery has about 50 chairs so the seating capacity of the house for general public is about 250. Guess what? Out of this, over 200 school children were occupying the gallery at one time including the steps/floor. 4 Galleries were full of school kids >From 4/5 different schools see pic http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk27/4867676769/ This was not very nice which result in denying others with valid passes. They had to wait till 12.30 when the school kids vacated their seats/gallery. After the lunch time, there were two more school batches occupied the two galleries. How we managed to get in just on time? Well, a door keeper (Migrant, Pvt ‘Active Security’) was kind enough to let us in, when we said we don’t mind seating on the floor/steps. Inside, we found two vacant chairs. Security: What about the security at the main entrance? I must say, it was not up to the mark. No frisking at all. We were carrying cameras and mobiles and we got away with it. (the cameras which we were carrying could have been something else but this is something for the security dept to seriously look into i.e. Security lapse I mean) However, the Pass (reverse of it) clearly says No mobile, Cameras, hand bags, umbrellas, sticks, books etc see pic http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk27/4867691107/ But almost all MLAs had mobile with them in the house. Even, I saw a mobile like thing on speaker’s desk Another interesting part was the pass also said.. ‘Visitors should not sit with crossed legs’ I really don’t know what it means or even if I know what harm it makes? More than half of the MLAs in the house seen with their crossed legs and it could be all of them as camera cannot see all 40 MLAs from one angle. However, whatever was possible is capture here, see this pic. MLAs with crossed legs http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk27/4870857429/sizes/l/ The session starts at 11.30 At this time the house was about half full. Later comers were Babush 11.50 Nerri 11.55 Davlikar 12 Churchill 12 Reginaldo 12.05 Francis Silveira 12.40 Mauvin 2.30 Joaquim 2.30 Ravi 2.30 etc etc Although there are breaks such as lunch time/ Tea time etc MLAs are seen going in and out as often as possible. At one time there were less than 16 legislators in the house of 40. Speakers keep on talking but for whom? Even the Speaker of the house seen busy going through the docs etc And the speakers/MLAs keep referring to ‘Speaker Sir’ in their speeches as if speaker listens to them all the time. Digu is missing, Parrikar is missing, babush is missing and so on and the speeches after speeches keep on going. When the no confidence motion against the Speaker Rane taken up, there was a full house. And the motion was defeated by 23/14 head counts/votes. Jr. Rane and Anil seen sitting as if they voted against the speaker. Visvajit being not an MLA, I think he is not allowed to vote. At least two members in their speech said ‘Rane is like their fatherly figure for he is in the house 35 years’. But Rane confirmed in his speech that he is infact 38 years experience legislator. Opposition labeled the Rane as ‘not neutral as speaker’ They even referred to newspapers ‘Hindu’ etc which reported the then Assembly (31/8/07) incidence as ‘Constitutional fraud’ Mr. Parrikar said to Sudin Davlikar (Minister for Social Welfare) that he can easily obtain (by paying bribe) an income Certificate in the name of Sudin/Minister showing his income just Rs.5,000. Our St. Andre MLA Francis Silveira made a demand that Agassaim Police station should have one 108 ambulance, a hospital at Neura/Mandur besides a ‘Che-pel’ and a temple at Goa medical College. http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk27/4868283040/ Speaker Rane in his speech said to Parrikar ‘I know you are high in IT etc but do not monopolise to yourself, give others (his MLAs) a chance to talk too’ http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk27/4868290180/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk27/4867679703/ Minister Sudin was announcing the different welfare schemee old and new but speaker stopped him as he ran out of his time. One of the new scheme likely to introduce is ‘ Special Voluntary Retirement Scheme’ for those with children with disability. Ravi Naik, the denying CBI probe Home Minister made his presence felt for the first time after 13 days of absence http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk27/4867670181/ While referring to Late Ravina’s death, Parrikar said she was operated by unqualified doctor and under no medical supervision. http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk27/4868283688/ Mickky complaint about the monthly dole that senior citizen are paid saying it was fine when it was Rs.500 everybody used to get it on time but not now.. He also talked about his experience at GMC Hospital at Bambolim http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36KeXJpiZWg The session was going on even after 7.30pm at which time galleries were seen empty http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk27/4867669731/ Other observations: Media men seen using their flash-photography from the galleries which was a clear distraction to the house and the general public. Using flash from such a distance (say over 7-10 meters) hardly make any difference. Flash photography in the house should be banned. The hall was enough lit and one could take clearer pics without the used of flash. Our legislator would not complain as they know they are the press men etc Gallery doors keep slamming loudly every time someone leaves the gallery This was another clear distraction to the house as we saw them looking up every time this happened. Lunch Time/Canteen: We had xit koddi at the Assembly Complex Canteen. Not bad, just Rs,25 per fish curry Thali Self service - take rice as much as you want. http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoaukfishcurryrice2/4871210649/ Special Bangdda was Rs,25 each It looks 'Rechad' or stuffed masala but it is not just coated with masala colour http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoaukfishcurryrice2/4871210215/ Other Pics Davilkar Brothers, Jose Philip, Francis Silveira, Manohar Azgaokar http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk27/4870790545/ A river view from the Assembly house http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk27/4868293460/sizes/l/ Ceiling exclusive http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk27/4867680189/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk27/4868292988/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk27/4868292572/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk27/4867672369/ Courtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk27/4868285822/ Mickky, Agnelo etc http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk27/4868286298/ Joaquim Alemao, Nilkant and 7 others http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk27/4868286944/ Two gallery view with opposition MLAs http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk27/4867673065/ Visitors/Gallery http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk27/4867673573/ A section of the BJP MLAs http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk27/4867674067/ Lesser known Anil etc http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk27/4868289116/ Babush de Taleigao http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk27/4867675175/ another section of the BJP plus the long oval table with stenographers etc http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk27/4868290180/ The Speaker http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk27/4867677263/ the Assembly house (External View) http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk27/4867680751/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk27/4868290626/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk27/4867677805/ The 4 minute video/ repeat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fd2cQFUZ20Y thanks for your time. AISI = As I See It [email protected] for Goa & NRI related info... http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/GOAN-NRI/ For Goan Video Clips http://youtube.com/joeukgoa In Goa, Dial 1 0 8 For Hospital, Police, Fire etc
