Panaji, Nov 12 (IANS): After protests by BJP over Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's name as a probable to give the historic midnight speech in the assembly on the 50th year of Goa's liberation, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has now said that "only the house could decide" on the person who should be allowed to speak.

The speech will be delivered on the midnight leading to Dec 19 when Indian armed forces freed Goa from colonial Portuguese rule on the day in 1961.

"Only the house should decide who should be allowed to speak inside the assembly," NCP state president Surendra Sirsat said, when asked if the alliance partner welcomes Congress' move to have either Rahul Gandhi or Congress president Sonia Gandhi to address the state.

Sirsat, a former speaker of the Goa legislative assembly, said: "These are the rules of the house. You have to go according to the rules."

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has already expressed outrage at the fact that members of the Goa legislative assembly were kept in the dark, even as state level as well as Congress leaders shortlisted Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to address the special midnight session.

"The assembly was kept in the dark and the decisions were taken by the Congress which violates the privilege of the house. We are going to boycott this session," Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar said.