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Goa CM calls for speaker's resignation

Goa Chief Minister Dr Wilfred de Souza has said that Speaker Tomazinho Cardozo should resign from the post and allow the smooth functioning of the Vidhan Sabha.

''I hope wisdom will prevail on him in the larger interests of the state,'' he said, talking to visiting members of the Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Press Advisory Committee in Panaji.

Under the present circumstances, the House could not function smoothly. The speaker was responsible for this state of affairs. As guardian of the House, he should act in a non-partisan manner to maintain healthy parliamentary traditions, the chief minister said.

He parried a question whether his party would seek Cardozo's removal. The decision, he said, would be taken by the three-party co-ordination committee of the state government.

Dr de Souza claimed there was no threat to his government. He continued to enjoy the confidence of all the coalition partners, and the outside support of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

''We are intact,'' he quipped.

He was confident of securing the vote of confidence in the assembly, which, he said, was his foremost task after getting a clean chit from the court on the disqualification issue.

''My first task will be to fulfil my promise to the governor,'' he said.

Dr de Souza confirmed that his transport minister ''happened'' to meet senior Congress leader R L Bhatia during the latter's recent visit to Panaji. However, he did not divulge the details about the ''unscheduled'' discussion between the two.

He made it clear that there was no question of returning to the Congress fold under the leadership of former chief minister Pratap Singh Rane, who, he alleged, had pushed the state into political and economic crisis by encouraging corruption.

Dr de Souza held former Union minister Madhavrao Scindia responsible for forcing the split in the Goa Congress by 'defending the misdeeds of Mr Rane who is his (Mr Scindia's) relative'.

He said the Union government was extending full co-operation, and was in no way interfering in his government's affairs.

UNI

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