Taxi owners’ strike witnesses tense moments in city

PANJIM: The ninth day of the ongoing taxi owners’ strike at Azad Maidan on Wednesday witnessed some tense moments after some taxi union leaders clashed with Revolutionary Goans chief Manoj Parab on the stage.

The heated arguments, which had to be stopped by the police, marred the otherwise peaceful agitation. 

The family members of the protesting taxi owners and drivers visited the protest site.

However, things turned ugly after Parab, who in spirit was supporting the demands of the protesting taximen, questioned as to why politicians were allowed to speak on the stage. 

He spoke about how during their last protest politicians like Michael Lobo and Pratima Coutinho made speeches but last year’s movement had failed to bring about a desired change.  

He said movements like the anti-IIT protest at Melauli won because of people’s power. 

Parab flayed the decision to allow these politicians and MLAs to speak and also criticised the audience for applauding whatever these politicians said. 

He insinuated what happens thereafter talking about sitting in air conditioned rooms and having drinks, etc.

However, these remarks infuriated the union taxi leaders who came on the stage and confronted Parab.

Initially, the mike was taken away from Parab, when it was returned; he lashed out at the taxi leaders for telling him what to speak. 

He sarcastically asked them if they wanted him to sing praises of certain people and that they should give him a written speech.  

These comments angered a section of the audience while RG supporters started chanting ‘Uzzo’ slogans. 

Parab said the stage he was speaking on was of ‘Goenkars’ and added that some taximen had asked him to visit the protest site. 

Taxi union leader Laxman ‘Bappa’ Korgaonkar took Parab aside while another leader took the mike and criticised Parab for calling some taxi union leaders as ‘chors’ (robbers) at the press briefings and meetings held earlier.  

Another speaker said all they wanted to know from RG is if they were with them or against them.

Parab continued to protest and gesture at those trying to prevent him from speaking. The police at the end escorted him off the stage, which eased the tension.

A union leader then criticised RG for trying to use the agitation to gain political mileage. 

Referring to Parab’s comments about how politicians were allowed to address the protestors, he said whoever has come to the protest site to extend their support has been welcome as in the end they are here to fight to save their livelihood.

Speaking to media persons, Parab said only the Chief Minister/Transport Minister should have been allowed to speak.

He also criticised a few taxi leaders for indulging in ‘goondagiri’. 

He said this was not fair for the honest taxi owners and drivers who get labelled as mafia just because of a few bad elements.

He said his main aim was to encourage the taxi protestors not to give up until GoaMiles is scrapped otherwise this movement too will fail like the previous one. 

He questioned if there was any ‘setting’ behind the previous movements failing.

He also slammed the State government for allowing GoaMiles and taxi-app aggregators which were eating into the livelihoods of Goan taxi owners who have been in this business for generations.

The protest saw the taxi union leaders pledging to continue their protest until GoaMiles is scrapped.  

Taxi union leaders demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for failing to address their grievances and vowed to work to defeating several MLAs in the upcoming elections as their demands were not fulfilled. 

Leaders such as Walter Lobo and Shailendra Velingkar also spoke.