Taxi Issue is being politicized; break down in law and order should be dealt with strongly

Tourism Stakeholders Demand Legal Operation for App-Based Taxi Services Amid Politicization

Published on:

31 Aug 2024, 3:56 pm

PANJIM: Stakeholders in the tourism industry feel that those who have been given permission by the government to carry on the aggregator business should be allowed to do so legally. Customers should be given freedom of choice. Any breakdown of law and order should be dealt with firmly, TTAG said.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant himself said there was politicization of the Taxi Issue, implying he knew who was behind it. Sections of MLAs too have been supporting the taxi operators.

I want to ask the Benaulim MLA, when he says there should be freedom for people to pick up passengers anywhere, why are app taxi aggregators not allowed to pick up passengers in Benaulim and Varca? All I’m asking is that is the Benaulim constituency in India or Pakistan? The permit given by the Transport Department says that they can pick up passengers anywhere. On the video it is very clear that their driver is asking for Rs 1000 fee. Whose hafta is this? They should clarify this.

Parag Raikar, Taxi Aggregator

Raikar asked if the hafta was going to the panchayat members or to the MLA. He also alleged that the tourist taxi drivers were drinking and driving and police should do breath analyser tests on them. Infuriated by these utterances, the Tourist Taxi operators gheraoed the Colva police station on Friday and demanded that an FIR be filed against Parag Raikar.

One Tourist Taxi operator asked what authority Parag Raikar had, to make such allegations.

Police should take action against tourist taxi drivers if they are drunk. This video has gone viral throughout the world and it will spoil the name of Goan taxi drivers.

Tourist Taxi Driver

Parag Raikar has shifted from Goa Miles and has started his own app. He should not have said that tourist taxi drivers are drunkards. We are all hurt,” another taxi driver stated. J

Taxi Driver

Jack Sukhija, President, TTAG said his association stand was very clear, “If someone has been given permission to be an aggregator and he is doing business lawfully, customer should always have choice. It’s not good if a customer is stopped from going out of his hotel and hire a cab."

Any such incident, is a breakdown in law and order and the government should act very strongly against someone who is not allow people to do business which he is entitled to.

Jack Sukhija, President TTAG

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, while talking on the Mopa taxi issues had clearly stated that the taxi protest had been politicized.

All MLA had agreed including the leader of opposition to have an aggregator app. MLAs had also agreed to do away with the metres and give them app based metres. The way they are talking it appears this protest is completely politically motivated, especially since they are targeting the CM. I can clearly see that this is politically motivated

-Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister