PANJIM: There are differences within the MGP on the contentious entry tax issue. With Public Works Department Minister Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar advocating a tax on all vehicles, including those with a Goa registration, his party demands that the government implement the tax only for vehicles from other states.
“The entry tax should not include Goan vehicles. The government should respect the sentiments of its citizens,” MGP working president Narayan Sawant told the media on emerging from the party’s central Committee meeting on Saturday that was attended by Sudin, his minister brother Pandurang (Dipak) and MLA Lavoo Mamledar among 20 members.
The two ministers and the MLA were not present for the press briefing. Addressing the media after a cabinet meeting on Friday, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar had said that a final decision would be taken shortly and assured that the interests of the locals will be taken into consideration. The PWD minister now states that it being a financial matter, it was the CM who would take a final call.
Meanwhile, the regional party – an ally of the BJP-led government – anticipates that the state assembly elections may happen in the next year, months before the actual polls scheduled in 2017. The MGP also demanded that the Goa Agricultural Tenancy (Amendment) Bill, 2014 be withdrawn and State continue with the Tenancy Act 1964 as “under the amended Bill, the tenants are at a loss while landlords are benefitting from it.”
