Panaji, Dec 20 (TOI): The Congress on Wednesday criticized the state government and Goa legislative assembly speaker Pramod Sawant for standing in on behalf of chief minister Manohar Parrikar and thus, “sullying the constitutional neutrality of the speaker’s role”.

State president Girish Chodankar questioned how Sawant could claim to be neutral in the House after he endorsed the achievements of the BJP-led government at the Goa Liberation Day function. “The speaker has a role to play and that role is similar to a judge,” said Chodankar. “He has to be neutral and cannot take sides or officiate on behalf of the government.” The Congress party said that the Constitution of India had clearly defined the roles of the chief minister, speaker and the governor but unfortunately, the BJP government in Goa was undermining the Constitution.

This is not the first time that the Congress party has criticized Sawant and called him partisan. “He cannot voice or endorse the achievements of the government because when he does so, then the system of democracy collapses,” Chodankar said. Governor Mridula Sinha also attracted flak. Chodankar said that Sinha has stood by as a mute spectator instead of intervening. “The governor is working as an office bearer of the BJP and that is why, we, once again, reiterate that she should be recalled,” Chodankar said.