Majority should rule, minority can appeal in courts: Goa Dy CM

Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a pitch for rule by consensus over majority in parliament, Goa's Deputy Chief Minister Francis D'Souza on Friday said in a democratic set up, a government in majority should brook no stoppages.

D'Souza's comment at a book release function attended by top Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) functionaries in the state, came hours after Modi's speech in the Lok Sabha, where the prime minister said: "The sanctity of the constitution, it is our responsibility. We must not forget that people give us power when we move together in consensus... Consensus is more important than majority rule."

"I agree, minority opinion should be listened to. Everyone should contribute in a democracy. But you have to allow majority to rule. Majority should rule, otherwise democracy will not function. You have to allow democracy to function," D'Souza said.

The deputy chief minister in the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government also said if those in the minority have a valid opinion, they should go to courts for redressal instead of creating obstacles for the incumbent government.

"What you should do with minority opinion, if it is a strong opinion and a legal one, they should go to court for redressal. They should not bring obstacles before government," D'Souza said.

D'Souza's comments came in the presence of senior RSS functionaries in the audience like Subhash Velingkar and Jayant Lele.

D'Souza, a BJP legislator from the Mapusa assembly constituency in North Goa, also said even if a government is elected by 51 out of a 100 voters, it amounts to majority rule.

"If out of 100, 51 people elect somebody, you have to allow the government to function. It is a majority rule," he said.