Panaji, March 10 Goa Forward Party (GFP) MLA Vijai Sardesai apologized to the state assembly on Tuesday over a protest staged by a group of people in the visitors' gallery in the House, after his office issued entry passes to them.
Four people were arrested on March 6 after they protested inside the visitors' gallery of the House against the proposed dam on the Zuari River in Mirabag village in Kushawati District.
The accused had entered the House using passes issued by Sardesai's office, and Speaker Ganesh Gaonkar on Monday gave the GFP MLA a 24-hour deadline to tender an unconditional apology.
Speaking on the floor of the House on Tuesday, Sardesai said that he respects the Speaker, which is an ideal position in a democratic House.
He pointed out that he has been an MLA for 14 years and has worked in both the government and the opposition.
"I have also served as a minister and deputy chief minister, and therefore, I understand how the House functions," the MLA said.
Legislators are given the right to issue passes, and he had issued such passes, he said, adding that he, however, cannot control how people who have received these passes behave.
The GFP leader tendered an unconditional apology as ordered by the Speaker, while claiming that he had no knowledge about the behaviour or intentions of the protesters.
"If I had known about their behaviour, would I have given them a pass? I could have even asked someone else to issue the pass," he said.
Sardesai also pointed out that while MLAs have the right to issue passes, the authority to allow people inside the assembly rests with the Speaker.
"If MLAs are expected to take responsibility for the conduct of those who are issued passes, then the assembly would have to discuss the matter and frame a separate rule or law regarding it," he told the House.