GA-SPEAKER-FLAG

Goa Cong objects to Speaker hoisting flag on Aug 15 in
Parrikar's absence
    Panaji, Aug 10 (PTI) The Goa Congress today objected
to state Legislative Assembly Speaker Pramod Sawant unfurling
the national flag on Independence Day in the absence of Chief
Minister Manohar Parrikar and called it a "break in convention
and protocol".
    Parrikar flew to the United States early today for a
medical check-up for a pancreatic ailment and is scheduled to
return to Goa on August 17.
    A senior CMO official today confirmed that in the
absence of Parrikar, the national flag would be hoisted by the
Speaker of the state Assembly.
    Goa Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Sankalp
Amonkar told reporters today that the flag, as per norms,
should be hoisted on Independence Day by the Chief Minister
or, in his absence, by the minister ranked number two in the
cabinet.
    "The government is all set to break the convention
and protocol of hoisting the National Flag. The Speaker is an
independent Constitutional post and he is not part of the
state government," Amonkar claimed.
    Speaker Pramod Sawant was not available for comment.
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