Panaji, April 8 (IANS) The six Goa legislators who rode on their motorcycles into the assembly complex without wearing helmets Friday have been fined for violating traffic rules, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said Monday."They have been challaned for the violation. The government has become richer by I don't know how many rupees. But it has been decided to use the event to give a positive direction to the helmet issue," Parrikar told the assembly while responding to a question raised during zero hour.
Earlier, the photograph of a cabinet minister who rode without wearing a helmet was published in newspapers.
Parrikar also reprimanded his MLAs for openly flouting the law. "Legislators should be careful. They have to follow law. No one has the authority to break law. It is a mistake for which they have paid penalty," the chief minister said.
"People have elected you because you all have intelligence," the chief minister said tapping his head. "Take care of your heads," he added.
Six 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.
--Indo-Asian News Service