Herald: We all know that the taxi situation is abysmal. Time and again the media has reported the same and we all have seen how this menace has let us down globally and nationally. This has to stop once and for all. We can no longer allow this to happen. What is stopping this government from taking a pro-active role and take the cabbies to task? We have never heard that the cabinet has taken a decision that meters have to be installed in taxis within a given timeframe. The government goes on extending its own decision just to please the taxi lobby. When people demand Ola, Uber and radio taxis why is there such a hue and cry. Nobody has said that these brands will be operated by non-Goans.
Narendra Sawaikar: There are certain issues we must look into before taking a concrete step. We must be sympathetic towards our own people. We need to talk to them and sensitize them. It is not as simple as one may think. All concerned have to first decide what all the State needs. And after taking that decision, we need to meet the taxi organisations. I’m confident that those in the taxi business for years, are willing to do what is best for the State, however, they also have some issues which we need to address properly. Once these things are done, I am sure everything will be sorted out.
HERALD: With due respect, from 2012 to 2017 why couldn’t we carry out the sensitization. Let us accept that the Kamat government had absolutely failed to sensitize, but even now you are talking about the future. Somebody must be made accountable for this delay. Agreed that we to have the sensitization process and a road map which will tell of the pitfalls. But there has to be a deadline. We can’t just harp on it and let the matter go from bad to worse.
So who takes a blame for the delay?
Narendra Sawaikar: Let us not blame A or B or C. I am confident that we shall get things in the right perspective.
Adv Cleofato Coutinho: I feel that the taxi lobby is much more stronger than the mining one.
Herald: Narendra bab, you are a politician from South Goa. You have won elections and have always been a straight forward and honest person. During the elections, because you needed support, even on issues like you had to tread a very fine line even as far as taxis are concerned, don’t you think it becomes a political compulsion to take decisions because they are also a voting block?
Narendra Sawaikar: Not necessarily.
Herald: During elections, didn’t you go to the taxi lobby during campaigning?
Narendra Sawaikar: Are they not part of the electorate? You need to go to every section of the society.
Herald: So that’s what I’m pointing out that political compulsions have also delayed decisions.
Adv Cleofato Coutinho: He does not have that problem anymore now, this lobby has shifted to the North. They are no more in the South. You are safe now.
Girish Chodankar: The taxi issue has snowballed into a major one now. I personally have faced the trouble and many of my guests have complained to me.
Appa Teli: Even with regards to the helmet issue, all over the world and in India, it is in force. But in Goa! It’s a different story… . Some time back, the transport minister said up to 75 CC bikes spare the helmets. Very ridiculous and people continue to die. Statistics tell us that most of the deaths on roads happen due to damage to the head. Yet, how far are we going to go on sensitizing the issue.
Herald: The next issue in tourism is law and order. There have been so many attacks on foreign tourists. Murders have taken place and cases have not been solved. Appa Teli, specifically to you as a former senior cop, don’t you think time has come to create a special tourist police which will handle all tourism-related cases. If a tourist is murdered, a fast track process must be formed to handle it. A special police force not only to man the beaches but to also look into the law and order in these areas must be set up.
Appa Teli: We say that tourism is the main contributor to our revenue, we are inviting the tourists and we are not thinking about their safety. The government has to decide on how much police force is required. The Merces incident should have been an eye opener. The problem is we wake up when such incidencts happen and until then you bear with them. But there has to be a limit to everything.
Narendra Sawaikar: I still feel that while we write and discuss about the issue (taxi), we should talk to them and discuss with them on how to adapt these changes. Ultimately, it is our responsibility. When we say Goa is ours then it is every individual’s responsibility to think about the facelift of the State. After moving out of this discussion, am I going to speak to the taxi guys or not? Sooner or later, I will have to do it. Ultimately, I have to do it and every person has to share the responsibility if we want to see a better Goa.
Appa Teli: I can understand that politicians may have certain compulsions, but once a decision is taken, it must be implemented. What happens is because one group is doing, the others follow and it is unending.
Herald: The recent incidents, including the Merces one, created a perception in the mind of the people that because of the “inability of the police”, gundaism has been on the rise.
Appa Teli: Over a period of time, a section of the masses, it seems, has gone reckless and they care two hoots about the police. Another issue is that the police are also wary of the fact that a person committing a crime may be linked to a politician. Goa is a small place and hence if that happens, what is the outcome? During my tenure, one of my constables was manhandled by a councillor and the constable got the firing. What I meant to say is that overall the fear of the police has disappeared.
Prashant Naik: This is the problem of being small. We were discussing about the taxi problem. If there are 100 families involved in the taxi business in a constituency, there are around 500 to 1000 voters. In Goa, 1000 is a big number which can make or break a party’s fortunes. That’s the problem of being small.
Nitin Kunkolienkar: In other words, 100 families can destroy the tourism business of the state?
Prashant Naik: Literally, that’s what is happening.
Herald: Coming to the last segment, the issue communalism versus secularism is the hot topic for debate these days. There have been incidents across the country, which one need not attribute to a particular government. But let us accept that certain incidents that have happened as a fallout of the so called beef ban. I mean there is no beef ban but the whole cattle issue has been converted into a beef ban. The killing of people by the cow vigilantes who on paper do not belong to any party but is seems that theyt enjoy immunity. This has raised a lot of questions about our secular structure. The fringe elements actually spoil the whole social fabric and the government gets a bad name. This has come to us as a huge challenge, it is the call of the hour that we all stand united and restore India’s social set up.
Narendra Sawaikar: In Goa, during the last 17 years, BJP has been in power for 10 years. Have we ever come across a time when there has been a beef ban. As far as the BJP and our government(s) are concerned, we have sincerely and dedicatedly worked to safeguard the secular fabric of Goa during the 10 years of our governance. We have thus ensured that the communal harmony remains intact.
Prashant Naik: Goa Forward is a part of the current coalition government and our motto is Goem, Goenkar and Goenkarponn, and therefore the primary aspect of Goenkarponn is the unity and brotherhood of the people of Goa which the whole country and the world acknowledges. We may have differences with Manohar Parrikar, but we should remember that it is he who has banned Pramod Muthalik from entering Goa and it continues.
Herald: Girish, the Congress has been attacking the BJP that the secular fabric of the state in under attack. My contention is, in Goa what are the reasons you think may have spoilt the secular fabric.
Girish Chodankar: Narendra bab said that nothing happened during BJP government in Goa. But they have wings which come and speak on various things. Actually it is government-sponsored but when it is presented, it is not “government-sponsored” per say. However, Narendra bab may be assuring us that the government will not ban beef, but the pattern in which soft hatred is being created through speeches is damaging.
Herald: That needs to be dealt with strongly. More visible action needs to be taken so that such statements are not made on Goan soil because it hurts the people.
Adv Cleofato Coutinho: Narendra may be right that nothing has happened as far as Goa is concerned, but these issues are coming up since 2014. These were not there earlier. Beef has been unnecessarily made into an issue and this has polarised the society and of course with political dividends. That is where I agree with Girish that certain leaders, the frontal organisations are doing it and the leadership is keeping quiet because finally you are getting the dividends.
Narendra Sawaikar: See the conference which was held Ramnathi, they are not a part of us. After 2014, if there have been some fringe elements who are doing it, then the government has dealt with them.
Ramesh Gawas: After 1964, every person that you know as Hindu now, his identity has been Konkani. In 1964, after the RSS wing started its operations, so much of infiltration has happened that today instead of Konkani, Hindu has become the identification. Even today in certain parts of the State, they are still identified as Konkani. This transformation has been a systematic one. In 2006, there were riots in Sanvordem and Curchorem and despite Section 144 in force, top politicians delivered speeches! A top politician’s wife is the treasurer of Sanatan which is accused of bomb blast in 2006 in Margao. They have their HQ here. Why is there no surveillance of such an organization and no probe.
Herald: Before we end, let us accept the fact that if there are any apprehensions in the minds of the people then it needs to be addressed.
