BJP party boss assures to ask Goa to withdraw tax
TEAM HERALD
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
BELGAUM: Bharatiya Janata Party President Rajnath Singh has assured to ask Goa’s BJP government to withdraw the controversial entry tax, if it is “directly or indirectly” affecting people from the region.
Singh, who was in Belgaum on Monday, was made aware of the Goa government’s decision to levy an entry tax on outstation vehicles entering Goa.
“If the entry tax is affecting people from the region directly or indirectly, I will ask the Goa government to roll back the entry tax in the interest of the people,” said Singh, while speaking exclusively to Herald.
“I will speak to Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar regarding the entry tax imposed by Goa government on vehicles of other states. However, I am asking for details from Goa, so that we can arrive at an appropriate decision in the interest of the common man,” Singh said.
Other BJP leaders, Rajya Sabha MP Dr Prabhakar Kore, Belgaum MP Suresh Angadi and Karnataka Minister Umesh Katti and MLA Mahantesh Kavatgimath, who were also present with singh, have also opposed the entry tax by Goa.
“Though I had called on Parrikar in this regard on Monday afternoon, I could not speak to him. However, I have already conveyed my message to him to reconsider the decision of entry tax which is directly affecting people of the region,” said Dr Kore, who is also on the national executive of BJP.
Meanwhile, the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) has reiterated its demand for a complete rollback of the entry tax by Goa Government with immediate effect.
AIMTC has also rejected the invitation for a meeting with Chambers of Commerce and Industry from Goa, Belgaum, Hubli and Kolhapur. The meeting with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has been scheduled on Tuesday at 4 pm.
Transporters from Belgaum, who have been maintaining a close vigil since Saturday, have also resolved not to allow any vehicle carrying vegetables to Goa to be loaded in Belgaum on Tuesday.
Reacting to Goa government’s offer to exempt tax for transporters from Belgaum, Karwar, Sindhudurg and Kolhapur, AIMTC President Bal Malkit Singh said: “Chief Minister Parrikar must understand that AIMTC is the mother body of all the transport organisations in India. Hence, Parrikar cannot please a few at the cost of others and divide us.”
“What we are demanding from Goa government is a total rollback of entry tax and nothing less. The agitation will not be called off till the ‘illegal’ entry tax is withdrawn by Goa,” Bal Malkit Singh told Herald and warned Goa government not to use any gimmicks and tactics and divide them as AIMTC will be forced to intensify the agitation further.
Presidents of transport organisations from Maharashtra and Karnataka have also voiced similar views demanding total rollback of the entry tax by Goa.
President of Karnataka Motor Transport Sangh Shanguppa, apologised to the people of Goa for the possible inconvenience they would face in coming days, due to their ongoing strike.
Meanwhile, transporters from Hubli who are also irked by Goa government’s decision on Monday said since Goa is part of India, not a single rupee must be charged for entry in Goa.
“Else, people from other states will feel that Goa is still under foreign rule,” stated Vijay Miskin, secretary of Hubli Transport Sangh.
Maharashtra State Truck Tempo Tankers and Bus Vahatuk Sangh President Prakash Gavali too has reiterated the stand of withdrawal of entry tax by Goa.
“I have instructed members all over Maharashtra not to allow loading of any goods to Goa,” Gavali told Herald, urging Goa government not to try and divide opinion of organisations outside Goa.
Meanwhile, transporters from Belgaum, Hubli and Dharwad who blocked several vehicles proceeding to Goa, have supported the AIMTC and said the blockade to Goa will continue till further notification is received from the apex body.
Veg prices soar
PANJIM: The impact of the ongoing blockade by national transporters protesting against the entry tax on outstation vehicles entering Goa is being felt across the State, with vegetable prices rising sharply on Monday.
While some vegetables shot up to almost double the rates in Panjim, vegetable markets in Margao witnessed a shortage on Monday. Prices of essential commodities rose by almost 50 per cent in the markets at Mapusa and Ponda, due to non-arrival of vegetable trucks from Belgaum and other areas.
Elsewhere, outstation vegetables were also in scarce supply in Ponda, Mormugao, Bicholim, Bardez and other talukas in the State.
While many vendors had stocks to last for only 1-2 days, many residents resorted to panic buying in a desperate bid to stock up vegetables for about a week, till the government comes clear on the issue. P5
…But CM defiant
TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Claiming that the State will not fall pray to “the blackmailing tactics by few traders’ organizations from the neighbouring states,” Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday told the State Legislative Assembly that government will not roll back the entry tax imposed on non Goa registered vehicles entering the State.
Parrikar also claimed that there is no shortage of vegetables, cereals and sugar in the state markets as they are available in plenty and also refuted rumors of soaring vegetable prices. He said state government might venture into other markets such as Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat to buy essential commodities.
Throwing a veiled warning of stopping the fuel supplies to these parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka, Chief Minister said, “The traders cannot stop vehicles with essential commodities to Goa. If they do it, they have to realise that petrol and diesel for their region is sent through Goa,” he cautioned.
Parrikar said that the protest has not made any impact on the movement of vehicles as the reports from the borders indicate that there is 10 per cent growth in the traffic arriving in Goa every day.” In last five days, the revenue has been above Rs 8 lakh per day,” he added.
Parrikar said that the neighbouring states, which have economic relation with Goa such as Belgaum, Sindhudurg, Karwar and Kolhapur have already been exempted from paying entry tax for a period of 15 days till state government comes out with a pass scheme.
Parrikar was responding to the Zero Hour mention by Opposition MLAs including Mauvin Godinho, Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco and Vijai Sardesai and BJP MLA Subhash Phaldessai.
The speakers pointed out that the traders from neighbouring states have begun protests, demanding roll back of the entry tax and have stopped supplying essential commodities such as vegetables, milk and groceries to the State, since Saturday.
Terming the decision as unconstitutional, the Congress members demanded roll back of the entry tax. They also said that decision should be kept in abeyance, till the time government comes out with a proper scheme. The members alleged that the entry tax is been imposed without issuing any final notification.
“How can traders from Belgaum (Karnataka) and Kolhapur (Maharashtra) dictate terms to Goa government? This is a question of basic blackmailing of the State. Government will not roll back the tax,” Chief Minister reiterated.
Parrikar said that he already had a dialogue with Transport Ministers and Chief Secretaries of the respective states ~ Karnataka and Maharashtra, who has assured all the cooperation, in case the vehicles were forced to stop on the borders.
Chief Minister explained that the decision to impose entry tax was taken and passed in the Budget session, last year, while proposing to slash petrol prices by Rs 11. He also said that if some feel that the decision is unconstitutional then they are free to approach Court. He clarified that the tax has been imposed on entry of vehicles for using state infrastructure. He also said that the final notification has already been issued.
