‘It is unfair to not allow debate on Goa governor’

With the Budget session of Parliament drawing to an end without a discussion on his motion on the role of the Goa governor, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Tuesday said it was “unfair” not to allow a debate on the “unconstitutional” act.

Deputy chairman PJ Kurien said the chair cannot do much as the motion can be listed for discussion only after the government allotted time for it.

Singh raised the issue through a point of order when the House met for the day, saying the substantive motion he had given on the suggestion of the chair, has not yet been listed for discussion with just a day left for the session to end.

The substantive motion has been admitted by the chairman but not listed for discussion as leader of the house Arun Jaitley was yet to agree on giving time for debate. “Goa governor has acted unconstitutionally” in not inviting the single largest party to form the government in the state after the assembly elections,” Singh said.

“Do I have no right to raise the issue... who should I blame (for the motion not being listed)... my right is being denied,” the Congress leader said. He said the motion has been pending for weeks now and went on to allege that democracy was “murdered” in Goa as the governor had ignored Congress and invited the BJP to form the government.