Panaji, Feb 28 (IANS): The Congress on Tuesday accused Speaker Anant Shet and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government of using the national anthem to silence the opposition during the one-day state assembly session.

"Look at the timing when the national anthem was played. It was played just as the opposition leader was standing to speak today (Tuesday) in the House," Congress spokesperson and Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo told the media.

"They claim they are nationalists. Look at what they are doing. Using the national anthem to block voice of the Opposition. We could not raise any issue we wanted, because the speaker allowed it to play just as our opposition leader was standing up to raise issues. We respect the anthem, so we kept quiet," Reginaldo said.

The one-day session of the Goa assembly which was called on Tuesday, has been criticised by the opposition accusing the government of trying to continue in power.