PANJIM: While Chief Minister Pramod Sawant continues to remain adamant on continuing with mobile app-based taxi service amidst tension between the tourist taxi operators and the government, former transport minister Ramkrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar has blamed former chief minister late Manohar Parrikar for the current situation on tourist taxi issue.

“Parrikar is to be blamed for the situation that has arisen today. He allowed them to take extension to install digital metres four times although I was of the opinion that they should be forced to install digital metre but Parrikar allowed the extension,” he told reporters while reacting to the current imbroglio on the issue outside the Assembly Complex on Monday. 

The MGP MLA said that Parrikar also took lenient steps as far as speed governance and high security number plate is concerned. 

Chief Minister Dr Sawant has refused to bog down to the demands of the traditional taxi operators who have remained off the roads since last weekend to protest against continuing with GoaMiles. 

The taxi operators supported by rent-a-cab association have demanded scrapping of the year-old app-based taxi service claiming it is killing the age-old business of the locals. 

Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar and Goa Tourism Development Corporation Chairman Dayanand Sopte shared their views in favour of GoaMiles citing it is the need to bring back tourism on track. 

“We have given our decision to continue with GoaMiles and still appealing the taxi operators to join the App. They should be transparent for the sake of tourism. They are our own people. They should join us or get your own App,” Ajgaonkar said. 

NCP MLA Churchill Alemao, who mellowed down on the taxi issue after a meeting with the Chief Minister, however raised concern over the taxi operators changing their stance. 

“Someone is instigating them. They should heed to what Chief Minister is saying. I don’t know how they changed their stance during the meeting with CM and later,” he said.