Goa CM praises Leader of Opposition, with pity

By NewsGram Staff Writer

Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Friday appreciated Congress leader and the Leader of Opposition Pratapsingh Rane with a pinch of sarcasm.

Addressing a press conference after the conclusion of the Monsoon session of the Goa legislative assembly, Parsekar singled out septuagenarian Rane for his sense of "understanding" and even expressed pity for him.

"Very often, while demands were being put to vote (in the assembly), the only person there was the old man. There was no one else. It feels bad. Making him wait there alone till 10.30 p.m., 11.00 p.m., while we were speaking, we felt bad," Parsekar said, while speaking about Rane and the conduct of the Opposition legislators.

The eight Congress legislators presented a muted opposition in the 40-member Goa legislative assembly during the monsoon Session.

With one of its senior leaders, former chief minister Digambar Kamat being probed for accepting bribes in the Louis Berger case and police suspicion on yet another independent legislator, the Congress, Rane included, could barely make a mark in the proceedings, with many of the Opposition benches lying vacant during legislative deliberations on most days.

A point not missed out by Parsekar.

"You have seen how many were there. Only our chairs were full. Only our members were there till the end," Parsekar said.

"In comparison, the Congress' attitude here was good. Our opposition leader here is very understanding," Parsekar said, adding that at times ruling legislators were more critical of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led coalition government than the Opposition.