Goa government, oppn trade charges over formalin-laced fish

The issue of formalin found in fish imported from outside Goa echoed inside and outside the state assembly today with the government and opposition trading charges over the matter.

Assembly Speaker Pramod Sawant claimed the Congress was not serious about discussing the issue in the House.

The ongoing monsoon session of the assembly has been stalled for the last two days with the Congress seeking to move an adjournment motion to discuss the issue of traces of formalin found in fish brought to Goa from other states.

A toxic chemical, formalin is used to preserve bodies and prevent its decay in mortuaries.

The Speaker had to adjourn the House several times since yesterday following ruckus by opposition members.

Talking to mediapersons outside the assembly hall, Sawant criticised the opposition, saying their conduct was against the spirit of democracy.

"It was not right on part of the opposition to disrupt the House and not allow its functioning. It was not acceptable and not right on part of the party (Congress), which has some senior leaders," the Speaker said.

The Speaker said the opposition also did not allow the House to take up a calling attention motion on the issue moved by Nilesh Cabral (BJP).

"If the Congress was really serious on the issue, they would have discussed it in the calling attention, but they preferred not to speak and instead disturbed the House," he said.

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said the noise created by opposition benches was "only to get cheap publicity".

"The noise was only for the purpose of taking cheap publicity. This is just a drama enacted by the Congress," Parrikar told reporters.

The CM said as far as the issue of formalin-laced fish is concerned, the government has already banned import of such stocks in the state.

"Whatever action needs to be taken, we have already taken it," he said.

The Congress, on the other hand, defended its stand.

The party claimed the ruling party was trying to defend "fish mafia" which exists in the state.

"The BJP-led coalition government is protecting the fish mafia and hence the lack of action against them. Why no action has been taken against anyone?