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Rane defeats confidence motion after scenes of violence

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panaji

While everyone in Goa awaited the governor's order amidst strong rumours that Pratapsingh Rane's Congress government had been dismissed, ruling and Opposition MLAs came to blows in the state assembly.

The finance bill was passed amidst slogan-shouting and desk-thumping. The situation degenerated to the point that two senior ministers beat up state Opposition leader Dr Kashinath Jhalmi.

Meanwhile, the splinter group of ten Congress rebels have moved the high court, challenging the speaker's order restraining them from entering the House. The high court is expected to decide on the matter tomorrow.

Speaker Thomazinho Cardoz, however, confirmed the interim order today, after hearing both sides. The 10 rebels did not attend the session today. The no-confidence motion against the speaker was defeated and the Opposition later staged a walkout.

Opposition members, of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party, tried to stall the proceedings of the House by thumping benches, shouting slogans and running to the well. They were protesting against the speaker's decision to take up in one day all the budgetary demands as well as the appropriation bill, which was actually slated for tomorrow.

The fisticuffs happened after the House, adjourned for 10 minutes, reassembled. A group of Opposition members stopped the speaker on his way to the seat. He pushed his way through.

The Opposition leader then started pulling off the microphone cables from the speaker's desk. Industries Minister Luizinho Faleiro and Fisheries Minister Sanjay Bandekar pulled Dr Jhalmi away and began pummelling him with their fists till he fell into the chief minister's seat.

Calm only descended when the discussion on the no-confidence motion against the speaker. After Dr Jhalmi gave a fiery speech, calling Cardoz a tool in the hands of the ruling party, and highlighting what he said were the latter's unconstitutional acts, the Opposition walked out, allowing the motion to be defeated.

Rane, who refuses to step down, claiming a majority in the House of 30 (since 10 members have been restrained), has condemned the Opposition for their "shameful behaviour."

Dr Jhalmi, on the other hand, has charged Rane with misusing the speaker's office for his survival. The Opposition MLAs and Congress rebels were waiting at the Raj Bhavan since Wednesday morning, eagerly awaiting the governor's order. Governor retired Lt General J F R Jacob meanwhile awaited a directive from the Union home ministry.

The BJP camp said the Union home ministry has given the green signal for the Rane government's dismissal, based on the way the speaker made a mockery of the confidence motion by unconstitutionally passing the interim order against the Congress rebels.

Meanwhile, Congress observer R L Bhatia, before leaving for Delhi on Wednesday afternoon, alleged that the governor was acting in a partisan manner by telling the chief minister to prove his majority at the last minute. He, along with K Karunakaran, submitted their report on the Goa situation to party president Sonia Gandhi this evening.

Though Bhatia claims the Congress government would continue in power, sources said all the attempts made by both Congress obsevers to persuade the rebels had proved futile. Dr Wilfred de Souza, the rebel leader, refused to discuss the matter with them unless they arrived with Rane's resignation letter.

EARLIER REPORT:
Ball in governor's court

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