Panaji, March 17 The Goa Congress launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led state government on Tuesday, accusing it of using the Model Code of Conduct as a pretext to curtail the assembly's budget session, thereby denying Goans their right to accountability.
The Goa budget session was curtailed on Monday following the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct for the April 9 by-election to the Ponda assembly constituency, necessitated due to the death of sitting BJP MLA Ravi Naik.
The session, which began on March 6, was originally scheduled to continue until March 27.
Before the session was adjourned, the state budget was passed in the House.
Addressing a press conference at the Congress House, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) vice-presidents Tulio D'Souza and Sunil Kawthankar said that the government was unable to withstand the Opposition's scrutiny.
"By curtailing the session, the government has deprived the people of Goa. Our MLAs were raising issues of public concern, but this corrupt government chose to stifle the debate. Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, Quepem MLA Altone D'Costa, and Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira exposed them thoroughly," Kawthankar said.
He pointed out that while by-elections are underway in Maharashtra and Karnataka, their assemblies have not been curtailed.
"If bills had been introduced, the BJP's exploitation through Section 39A (of the Town and Country Planning Act, which allows land conversions) would have been prevented. Hence, they curtailed the session and passed the budget illegally," he charged.
Kawthankar further highlighted the denial of reservations for students from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) community in postgraduate medical seats at the Goa Medical College and Dental College.
"The government is not keen on giving OBCs their rightful share," he said, praising the LoP's stance.
He also dismissed Chief Minister Pramod Sawant's claims about Goa's Happiness Index.
"People are frustrated, and the youth are unemployed. The reality is the rising frustration index, not happiness," Kawthankar said.
He claimed that the government has spent Rs 677 crore on events since 2022, including Rs 13 crore on the Viksit Goa, Viksit Bharat programme, amounting to Rs 22 lakh per minute.
D'Souza alleged that the government has failed on all fronts, especially in financial management.
"Goa's debt has crossed Rs 35,312 crore as of January 2026, with no plan for redemption. The Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) guidelines mandate that debt should not exceed 22-25 per cent of the GSDP, but Goa's ratio has touched 34-35 per cent. This is disastrous for the state's economy," he warned.
He reiterated the Opposition's demand to scrap aggregator guidelines and protect the interests of traditional taxi owners.
"They are our ambassadors, and their livelihood must be safeguarded," D'Souza said.