Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Mar 10: Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai on Tuesday tendered an unconditional apology in the state assembly after a group of visitors staged a protest from the gallery using entry passes issued by his office.

The apology comes after four persons were arrested on March 6 for protesting in the visitors’ gallery of the House against the proposed dam on the Zuari River in Mirabag village in Kushawati district.

The accused had entered the assembly using visitor passes issued by Sardesai’s office. Following the incident, Speaker Ganesh Gaonkar had given the MLA a 24-hour deadline on Monday to tender an unconditional apology.

Addressing the House on Tuesday, Sardesai said he respects the Speaker and the dignity of the legislative institution.

He noted that he has served as an MLA for 14 years and has worked both in the government and the opposition. “I have also served as a minister and deputy chief minister and therefore understand the functioning of the House,” he said.

Sardesai stated that legislators are allowed to issue visitor passes and that he had done so in accordance with the rules. However, he said he cannot control how individuals behave once they receive such passes.

Tendering the apology as directed by the Speaker, Sardesai maintained that he had no prior knowledge about the behaviour or intentions of the protesters.

“Had I known about their behaviour, would I have given them a pass? I could have even asked someone else to issue the pass,” he said.

He further pointed out that while MLAs have the right to issue passes, the final authority to allow visitors into the assembly rests with the Speaker.

Sardesai also suggested that if legislators are expected to take responsibility for the conduct of visitors issued passes by them, the assembly should consider discussing the matter and framing a separate rule or law governing the practice.