Team Herald
PANJIM: Amidst uproar by the Opposition and industrial bodies, the State government on Tuesday defended and clarified its decision to grant “paid holiday” to the electorate of Karnataka, residing in Goa and working as industrial workers and in private establishments, in view of Karnataka Assembly polls scheduled on May 10.
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Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that it is the Constitutional Right of every voter to vote in their State and we have followed the rule. He said that it’s not a public holiday to all but a paid holiday to only Karnataka voters, who are residing here and working in the private sector.
“The permission is granted based on a request made by Karnataka Chief Electoral Office,” he said, informing that Karnataka and Maharashtra, too had given paid holidays to Goan voters to vote during the State Assembly election here, last year.
“It is their constitutional right and industrial bodies need to understand this. I don’t understand why there are so many issues. Everything is done as per Rule,” Sawant said.
In a press statement, the government clarified that the decision to grant ‘Paid Holiday’ to the electors of Karnataka State was considered as per Section 135-B of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951. It also said that the State has sizable electors in the State and that a request was received from the Chief Electoral office (CEO) Karnataka necessitating the declaring May 10 as paid holiday for their electorate.
The government said that the Section 135-B of Representation of Peoples Act, 1951 states every person employed in any business trade, industrial undertaking, or any other establishment and entitled to vote at election to the House of the People or the Legislative Assembly of a State shall on the day of poll be granted a holiday.
“Karnataka being the neighbouring State has sizeable electors in the State of Goa – a request was received from the Office of CEO, Karnataka necessitating the declaring of the Paid Holiday on the day of poll and thus was considered favourably,” the government said.
The State also said that during the General Election to the Legislative Assembly in the State of Goa in 2022, the Government of Maharashtra and Karnataka too had issued similar notifications to facilitate the electors of the respective States exercise their franchise in accordance with the RP Act, 1951 in Goa.
Industries Minister Mauvin Godinho on Tuesday said that the Karnataka government had also given paid holiday last year when Assembly elections were held in Goa.
Godinho alleged some members of the Opposition are creating an unnecessary issue over the holiday decision. “The State government merely followed a practice,” he told media persons.
He said the Goa State Industries Association has “over-reacted”.
Goa State Industries Association president Damodar Kochkar questioned the rationale behind the State government’s “absurd” decision.
“Industries in Goa feel this is an absolutely absurd and stupid decision…taking industries to ransom for electoral gains,” Kochkar alleged and said they are considering legal remedies against such “unilateral” decisions of the State government.
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Exodus begins as hordes of Kannadigas leave for Karnataka
PANJIM: Frantic scenes were witnessed at the Panjim and Margao bus stands as hordes of Kannadigas left for their home State to cast their vote for the Karnataka Assembly elections.
All Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC) and Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses left the State packed to their capacity.
A heavy rush of electors from Karnataka was witnessed at the Margao, Panjim, Mapusa, Vasco and Ponda bus stands who left for their home land to vote. The Goa government declaring a “paid holiday” to the electors of Karnataka, working and residing in Goa has come as icing on the cake for voters of the neighbouring state.
Mohammed Rafik from Mapusa who left for Hubli on Tuesday said, “We go to vote during every election in our State. We are spending our money to go and exercise our franchise.”
Passengers travelling to Karnataka were found making multiple inquiries at the KTC Terminus in Margao. Ajay Sanadi, currently working at a restaurant in Benaulim, was at the KTC Terminus around 6.30 pm and wanted to travel to Honnavar.
“I wanted to go to vote but now there are not many buses. I’ve been residing in Goa for the last six years. But now since no bus is available, I’ll try and travel tomorrow morning,” he told O Heraldo.
Similarly Dhaval Giri, a resident working at a small firm in Cuncolim, said that he was informed by his friends that more buses will be available from Margao to Hubli.
Giri, a voter from Hubli, claimed that he wanted to travel with his younger brother and added that they decided to do so at the last minute.
When contacted, KTC officials in Margao said that there will be a shortage of buses since a few weeks ago many buses from the State-run corporation had left for Karnataka.
“KTC buses are already witnessing a shortfall as several many have been deployed at the airports. Customers get angry and shout at us. When the issue is raised at the management level, nothing is done” said a KTC staffer speaking on the condition of anonymity.
