PANJIM: On Day 5 of their protests, the taxi owners and drivers who are holding an indefinite strike at Azad Maidan, here have remained steadfast in their demand that GoaMiles be cancelled before they call of their protest or discuss the issue of installation of meters and other issues with the government.
While the taxi owners and drivers held a symbolic procession around Azad Maidan, holding placards and shouting slogans against GoaMiles and online taxi aggregators, their protest continued to attract political leaders from various parties.
Shiv Sena, Congress, Goa Forward Party, Aam Aam Aadmi Party have all had their leaders descend at the protest venue and address the taxi owners and drivers since their protests began on Tuesday.
On Friday, MGP leaders led by party president Deepak Dhavalikar and Youth Congress leaders led by its president Varad Mardolkar were amongst those who addressed the taxi owners.
Opinions about how the government has failed to solve the grievances of the taxi owners and drivers were a common point amongst the speakers as well about the government’s inability to reduce unemployment in the State.
Taxi union leaders warned that the youth in particular were getting more and more upset and that if the government refuses to address their demands, they won’t be held responsible if the youth take matters in their own hands. This was in reference to how the taxi protest may spill over on to the streets if they are prevented from protesting at Azad Maidan anymore.
Furthermore, taxi union leader Laxman ‘Bappa Korgaonkar’ said as a last resort, the government should buy all their taxis and provide all of them with employment.
When pointed out that some taxi drivers were seen plying on the streets, despite their protest, taxi union leader Chetan Kamat appealed to such operators to join their protest and not undermine what thousands of taxi owners are trying to do via the protests.
“Dialogue and diplomacy should replace autocratic threats in resolving the Taxi/GoaMiles issue. #GoaGovt should impartially settle the matter across the table at the earliest as this has a direct impact on tourism,” Independent Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte tweeted on Friday.
