Goa Speaker urges MLAs to undergo Covid test ahead of session

Panaji, July 2 Two days after a ruling BJP MLA tested positive for Covid-19, Speaker of the Goa assembly Rajesh Patnekar on Thursday urged all legislators to get themselves tested.

"Definitely, it is better to have tests done. MLAs often have to rush to sites where Covid cases are detected. People expect MLAs to help. By default they come in contact with some persons there, when they reach the spot," Patnekar told reporters here.

"I request all MLAs to go for self-testing. It is my appeal to them," Patnekar said.

The Speaker's comment comes a few days after Goa Governor Satya Pal Malik convened the monsoon session of the state legislative assembly from July 27.

On Wednesday, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had said, that the BJP MLA who had tested positive was part of a meeting of the ruling legislators, but added that social distancing norms were followed at the meet, which was held last month.

( With inputs from IANS )