As Parrikar unwell, Goa session to be curtailed to three days

The Budget session of the Goa Legislative Assembly beginning from Monday will be curtailed to three days till February 21, owing to ill health of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar who is undergoing treatment at a Mumbai hospital.

The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Assembly will meet tomorrow after the customary address of Governor Mridula Sinha, deputy Speaker Michael Lobo said here on Sunday.

"We will curtail the session to three days considering ill health of the chief minister," Lobo said.

Earlier, the session was supposed to culminate mid-March.

Due to proposed rescheduling, the Budget would be tabled on February 20 instead of February 21 and the Vote on Account would be passed on the last day of the session i.e February 21, he said.

When asked whether Parrikar would be attending the session, Lobo said the doctors have asked him not to attend the House.

"The questions which were supposed to be discussed during the current session would be postponed for the next session," the deputy Speaker said.

It is not clear who would present the Budget in absence of Parrikar.

Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar said the Opposition parties have no reservations if the session is curtailed as the chief minister is genuinely ill.

Parrikar was admitted to Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai on February 15 for mild pancreatitis.

He is doing well and under observation at the hospital.

Parrikar's office yesterday issued a statement stating that the chief minister will be attending the Assembly session.