Team Herald
PONDA: Former Transport Minister and Marcaim MLA Sudin Dhavalikar on Tuesday supported the statement of Ports Minister Michael Lobo, who had blamed former Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar for the entry of GoaMiles App service in the State.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Sudin said, “There is truth in the statement made by Lobo on the GoaMiles App service.”
“That time I was the Transport Minister and when GoaMiles App file came to me I opposed it. However, it was passed through Tourism Department sidelining the Transport Department which was expected. All this happened in the 2016-17. At that time Nilesh Cabral was the GTDC director, chairman Babu Ajgaonkar was the Tourism Minister and the former Chief Minister had inaugurated the GoaMiles App and even the photo of it is on social media,” Sudin disclosed.
“I didn’t know Lobo had supported it or not at that time but the good thing is that at present the Minister cleared his stand on the App service. Because of this, the taxi operators are raising their voice and coming on the road against the App service,” he added.
He said, “Prior to entry of GoaMiles App I was insisting that the taxi operators to install meters and clear the issue. However they didn’t listen to me and now the situation is arising out of it.”
“At times the Transport Department was not considered. Just as the Congress and BJP Chief Ministers had handed their letters in the Mhadei River water diversion case sidelining the Water Resource Minister, similar thing is happened with the GoaMiles App service while launching in the State. It is possible for a person on the Chief Minister’s post to take any decisions as and when he wants,” he added.
Sudin also supported the Sattari farmers who are agitating for their land rights stating that first Chief Minister Dayanand Bandodkar had given land to cultivate and earn livelihood. The Kumeri, Mokashe and Aframent lands were given to the Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Caste and Other Backward Classes to cultivate, earn livelihood and educate children through it. However, the successive governments were inactive towards the rights of farmers.
He said, “Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party will fulfill their rights if it comes to power.”
