PM warns against defections by Goa MLAs

Panaji, March 5: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today warned legislators of the Goa Assembly against frequent defections. Inaugurating the new assembly complex at Porvorim on the outskirts of Panaji, Vajpayee reminded Goa’s MLAs that the politics of defections would endanger democracy in the long run. "We should learn from the examples of neighbouring countries where democracy has failed," Vajpayee said.

The Prime Minister who was pleasantly surprised at the spanking new assembly complex told the assembled MLAs and other dignitaries that the building would be a shining example for other states in India. The building which took more than five years to build cost Rs 32 crore of which Rs 10 crore have come by way of Central assistance. The complex is spread over more than 54,000 square metres. The building has 250 rooms including a bank, a post office, a library, a cafeteria, a printing press, and a health centre. Unlike at present, every legislator in the assembly will be given a room.

The secretariat will do away with paperwork in the near future, according to the speaker. Digital networking equipment worth nearly Rs 1 crore have already been installed in the premises. All files in the premises will soon be captured in digital format and the heaps of paper which characterize government offices will be condemned to the archives. All the assembly sessions beginning the forthcoming budget session will be captured on video. More than Rs 30 lakh worth of video equipment have been installed at the secretariat complex.

Maintenance of the spanking new building is expected to cost more than Rs 1.5 crore annually. With the state facing an acute financial crunch, Speaker Pratapsinh Rane has already mooted the idea of renting the premises to private parties for holding seminars and conferences.