Panaji, Aug 12 (The Hindu): The Goa Congress has written to Governor Mridula Sinha objecting to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s decision to ask Assembly Speaker Pramod Sawant to hoist the flag at the State’s Independence Day function in Panaji.

In the letter sent on Saturday, the Congress claimed it wants to prevent setting a wrong precedent, and has urged her to hoist the flag instead. Mr. Parrikar is in the U.S. for a medical check-up and will will return only on August 17.

Goa Congress president Girish Chodankar said, “This decision clearly reflects the partisan attitude of this government.” He said the normal practice is the Chief Minister hoists the national flag, and in his absence, a senior Cabinet Minister is given the honour.”

The letter said, “The Speaker is nowhere connected to the working of the government. He is supposedly considered to be impartial having an independent institution called Legislative Assembly to take care of.”