Furious Assembly to act against taxi drivers for protest
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 15 April 2013 21:26 IST
Taxi drivers are likely to face breach of privilege of the Goa Assembly as they protested in public against the comments made by legislators in the House.
Speaker Rajendra Arlekar has directed the government to submit a report regarding taking out morchas to the MLAs, which chief minister has agreed to submit by tomorrow evening.
“People have no right to challenge what MLAs speak in the House” was a common voice expressed by the ruling as well as opposition members today.
Opposition leader Pratapsing Rane in fact demanded that the agitating taxi drivers be summoned before the House and put behind the bars for breach of privilege.
Independent MLA Rohan Khaunte raised the issue of the statements made by some of them about taxi drivers looting the tourists and common man by charging exorbitantly.
As section of the media, according to Khaunte, misquoted them as MLAs calling the taxi drivers thieves, North Goa taxi operators marched to Khaunte as well as tourism minister Dilip Parulekar.
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Besides Khaunte, Mickky Pacheco, Vishnu Wagh and Naresh Sawal had also criticized the manner in which taxi drivers behave.
Members of the House were also critical about the media not reporting the facts in a realistic manner, which provoked the taxi drivers.
“Are issues debated in the House questionable outside by the public”, asked Khaunte.
“What protection do we have for speaking the truth, speaker sir”, asked Wagh.
“Constitution gives us full right to speak what we feel, it cannot be challenged”, said Rane.
Speaker Arlekar agreed with the members stating that members of the House cannot be intimidated by the public.
“This is definitely a case for breach of privilege”, said the Speaker.
He plans to act on the Breach of Privilege motion moved by Khaunte and act once the chief minister submits the report.
It has to be seen what action the Speaker initiates against the taxi drivers – simple warning, summoning them to the House or sending them to the jail.
