Six Goa lawmakers ride into assembly on motorbikes, sans helmets

Six legislators, including a cabinet minister, Friday rode on their heavy motorcyles into the state assembly complex, allegedly without wearing the mandatory helmets, triggering a controversy. The transport minister promised a probe and action.

The legislators - Carlos Almeida, Pramod Sawant and Glenn Ticlo (Bharatiya Janata Party), Rohan Khaunte and Avertano Furtado (both Independents) and Mickky Pacheco (Goa Vikas Party) - drove from Panaji to the assembly complex, across the Mandovi river in a sort of a mini rally on their heavy duty cruisers from Enfield Bullets to Harley Davidson motorcycles to attend the Friday sitting of the budget session.

Asked by media persons about how they could drive without helmets in violation of traffic norms, Ticlo said: "If we were not wearing helmets, then the traffic policemen who were on the road should have done their job and stopped us."

While Ticlo, Furtado and Carlos Almeida rode Bullet motorcycles (with Sawant riding pillion on one of the motorcycles), Pacheco and Khaunte drove Harleys.

Both the two independents and Pacheco are supporting the BJP-led coalition government.Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and Speaker Rajendra Arlekar claimed they were not aware of the alleged indiscretion.

Asked to comment, Transport Minister Sudin Dhavalikar said that if the erring legislators were found guilty, action would be taken against the lawmakers under the motor vehicles act.