Mobiles allowed in Assembly from Budget session
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 15 March 2010 21:36 IST
Goa Assembly would allow the legislators to use mobiles in the House, provided they are kept on a silent mode.
The five-day Assembly session would begin on 22 March.
Chief minister Digambar Kamat would present his budget in the House on 23 March.
According to speaker Pratapsingh Rane, a cellular phone has several other utilities, besides speaking.
"It has Internet facility, members can make notes on it and you also get "good thoughts" over it", he said, smiling.
The facility however would not be extended to the media, Rane said.
Using mobile on silent mode could help a great deal for the media to send their reports instantly. The Assembly has Internet-loaded computers in the press room, but on the ground floor.
Rane however has allowed complete live coverage of the Assembly session on the local television channels. Prudent was the first such channel to start complete live coverage of the session.
The session is expected to last only for five days. With a Ramnavami holiday on 24 March, Rane is planning to extend the short session until 29 March.
It would thus run only for four days next week until Friday and then on next Monday, 29 March.
Opposition leader Manohar Parrikar however is upset over such a short session.
"There are thousands of issues and only four days for raising issues. We would however focus on law and order situation and the drug trade", he said.
The session would begin with Governor's address on the first day.
