Amid ruckus Goa House thanks Modi, Shah for CAA

Panaji: Amid stormy scenes, which included one adjournment and a walkout by the opposition, the Goa Assembly here on Monday passed a motion moved by ruling party legislators, hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for passing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in Parliament.

Speaking for the motion, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant accused the opposition of fear-mongering and told Goans their nationality would in no way be affected by the new law.

"I again appeal on record to my brothers and sisters of the minority communities, you will not be affected. These people are scaring you. Those who are carrying out anti-CAA stirs are vested interests. Don't get swayed by them," Sawant said.

Reiterating the assurance, the Chief Minister said no Indian -- either a Christian, a Muslim or a Hindu -- need to fear the CAA. "Those who are protesting are playing politics on religious lines," he said.

Earlier during the day, the first day of the budget session, Speaker Rajesh Patnekar adjourned the proceedings for nearly two hours after the opposition created ruckus over the issue.

As soon as Atanasio Monserrate (BJP) stood to move the motion, Vijai Sardesai of the Goa Forward party said the CAA didn't "fit any law". It was unfair on the Speaker's part to allow the congratulatory motion, even as 10 Opposition members had jointly demanded in writing, a discussion on the CAA, the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR), Sardesai said.

"This law in unconstitutional and what you are doing is also unconstitutional. This is de-citizenisation," Sardesai said.

The opposition members also stormed the well of the House shouting slogans and heckled the Speaker, forcing him to adjourn the House.

When the House reconvened, the chaotic scenes continued. When the Speaker refused to relent, the opposition MLAs walked out shouting slogans against the CAA and the state authorities.