The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Goa affairs

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Friday, Feb 04, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Goa affairs

Sir, — The dismissal of the Goa Government, after Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar won the vote of confidence, albeit questionably, is yet another instance of the charade our democracy has become. The ejection of independent MLA Filipe Neri Rodrigues from the House by Speaker Vishwas Satarkar on questionable grounds was no doubt patently absurd.

But a Speaker's decision can be challenged only in a court of law. The Governor has evidently transgressed his brief by dismissing the Government.

P.S. Sunil Kumar,
Bhubhaneshwar

Sir, — Once again democracy has suffered a jolt. Both the Speaker's decision, asking Mr. Neri to withdraw from the House just before the voting on the confidence motion, and the Governor's dismissal of the Government without waiting for the Speaker's report are driven by narrow political considerations.

As usual, there will be a heated debate on the grey areas of the Constitution, democratic conventions, and the Sarkaria Commission recommendations on the role of Governor. There is a clear message for the States going to the polls in the next few days.

Amit Swaroop,
Sultanpur, U.P.

Sir, — Governor S.C. Jamir's action is a blatant violation of constitutional norms. Such partisan action is a blot on democracy.

A. Mohan,
Ruwi, Muscat

Sir, — That a democratically elected government was dismissed after it proved its majority on the floor of the House is unfortunate. The Governor's action is unconstitutional. If he felt that the ejection of an independent MLA by the Speaker was not correct, he should have asked for another trial of strength.

K. Ramachandran,
Howrah, W.B.

Sir, — What was the hurry to install a new Government at midnight? The Governor could have sought legal opinion prior to taking such a decision, which is explicitly anti-democratic.

S. Jaychandran,
Chennai

Sir, — The speed and haste with which the Governor acted show that he had already made up his mind. If there were doubts about the Speaker's action, it should have been judicially challenged. The abrupt dismissal of the Government was uncalled for.

B. Kousalya,
Chennai

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