MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: During the last few days, the expectation amongst the taxi protestors was that the government would respond to their demands in some way or the other on the 12th day of their protest.
However, when the day arrived, the government did respond but not in the way the taxi operators were expecting them to.
In a move that left the taxi operators shocked and exasperated, the Azad Maidan was blocked by Panjim police on the ground that the protestors no longer had permission to use the site. Further, they were told that permission was given for some other function at Azad Maidan.
This led to chaotic scenes on Saturday morning as hundreds of taxi protestors continued to protest in the vicinity of Azad Maidan and the large gathering in front of shops nearby led to traffic police trying to ensure there was no traffic jam in the area.
When the taxi operators were informally told that permissions were being
denied due to the pandemic, they demanded that the government stop large gatherings outside the casinos immediately and questioned if ‘magically’ COVID doesn’t affect the casino folk but only them.
While the taxi operators later met the Deputy Collector along with Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat, they were upset with the manner in which the government was trying to derail their protests.
“We are hopeful of getting permission on Monday. But till then we will continue our protests. We have also informed the Collector that we will follow all COVID protocols. We also agreed to Digambar’s appeal of keeping our children at home keeping their safety in mind. But we will stay united and won’t stop until our demands are fulfilled,” taxi union leader Laxman (Bappa) Korgaonkar said.
He described Saturday’s decision by the government as a ‘stunt’ that will backfire as it has emboldened the protestors even further, across the State.
Asked if they will be meeting the government based on what Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho had said, Korgaonkar said they had till date not received any official intimation from anyone in the government about such a meeting.
“Whatever we have heard is only through the media. Nothing has been told to us and no message has been sent to us,” he added.
Another taxi union leader Yogesh Govekar lashed out at the attempt to use government machinery to divide them. He said the government’s dictatorial attitude had been exposed and that the Chief Minister would get a befitting answer from the people.
Incidentally, the wrath of the government’s move to deny them access to Azad Maidan was taken out on ministers like Manohar Ajgaokar, Michael Lobo and Godinho
The crowds gathered outside Azad Maidan also accused GTDC Chairman Dayanand Sopte of lying to them and said he had assured to fight for local taxi owners against GoaMiles during his election campaign and now has changed his stance.
In that regard, some taxi operators have planned to hold a one day protest at Mandrem on Sunday while others will continue to protest in Panjim.
Korgaokar also hit out at the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa’s (TTAG) comments against them and asked them how the hotels in Goa keep changing their rates during various seasons of the year.
They also recalled that the State government had issued an ordinance to protect the interest of a hotel in Goa but cannot do the same to protect the interest of thousands and thousands of ‘Niz Goemkars’.
He also said it was wrong to say that the taxi owners are against meters and said they had already said they are willing to discuss the same but only after GoaMiles is scrapped.
When told that the government has repeatedly said GoaMiles can’t be scrapped, they gave examples of what the government has done before to suit them and that they are not willing to accept that statement from the government.
“Our taxis will not be on the road until our demands are met,” said another taxi union leader who also appealed to his fellow taxi people not to take law into their own hands as the government will use that to act against them and stop their ‘indefinite strike.
