Panaji March 26 (IANS) The Congress on Monday objected to Goa Assembly Speaker Pramod Sawant updating ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on administrative and governance-related issues and claimed that Parrikar had no trust in a three-member ministerial committee formed to take administrative decisions in his absence.
At a press conference here outgoing state Congress President Shantaram Naik also said that the three-minister committee which includes one minister each from two alliance partners and one BJP minster and tasked with overseeing day-to-day governance matters was unconstitutional.
"Seeking a report on administration of the state from the Speaker is wrong " he said adding that the Speaker s office was supposed to be politically neutral and isolated from governance and administration-related issues.
The party s criticism comes a day after the Goa Speaker s office issued a statement on Sunday which said that Parrikar who is currently being treated in the US for advanced pancreatic cancer in a telephonic conversation with Sawant on Sunday had sought an update on general and administrative matters in the state.
Naik also maintained that Parrikar s arrangement of appointing a three-member committee to oversee governance issues was also unconstitutional.
"The committee and the decisions it is taking are unconstitutional. There is no government business rule which endorses such an arrangement " he said.
Contacted for a response on the issue of alleged interference of the Speaker in matters of governance and administration BJP spokeperson Narendra Savoikar refused to comment.
--IANS
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