Taximen back Cavelossim Sarpanch, demand strict verification of app-based drivers
A large number of local tourist taxi operators assembled at the South Goa district police headquarters on Thursday.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Local tourist taxi owners from Salcete coastal belt and from other places on Thursday demanded that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who also holds the Home portfolio, verify the antecedents of the taxi drivers plying taxis under app-based taxi aggregators and websites.
While insisting on government-issued badges for the drivers to ply taxis, they demanded a thorough inquiry into the background of the taxi drivers who lodged a complaint against Cavelossim Sarpanch Dixon Vaz before initiating any action.
A day after taxi drivers under the banner of All Goa Taxi Drivers’ Union lodged the complaint, Goan taxi operators rallied behind the Cavelossim Sarpanch, warning that they will not keep quiet if any attempt is made to mete out harassment to locals supporting the cause of the Goan taxi operators.
Leader of tourist taxi operators, Bapa Korgaonkar, said the tourist taxi operators have come in support of the Cavelossim Sarpanch in view of the complaint lodged by some drivers. “We will not keep quiet if any action is initiated against Dixon based on a complaint lodged by some drivers. The police should conduct a thorough inquiry into the persons who have lodged the complaint. If any outsider comes and complains against locals, we will not keep quiet,” Bapa warned.
Former Varca Sarpanch and tourist taxi operator Jose Afonso said outsiders are out to snatch the tourist taxi business and the livelihood of the local operators. “I have never come across such a problem in my career of running taxis for the last 32 years. Outsiders without taxi badges are out to create problems for the local operators. The government must check their birth certificates to find out their place of origin and their background,” Jose demanded.
Saying that Goemkars are peace-loving people, Jose, however, warned that they will not sit quietly and watch outsiders take away the food from their plate and their very livelihood.
Cavelossim-based guest house owner Paul Lobo gave a clarion call to the local tourism stakeholders, including the tourist taxi operators, shack owners, guest house owners, boat and cruise operators, etc., to unite against what he termed as an attempt by outsiders to displace the locals from the tourism business. “One by one, they will take over the tourism business from the Goans. The time has come for locals to unite. We cannot allow outsiders to come and take the food from our plate,” he said, while demanding that the Home Minister check the antecedents and the background of the outsider taxi drivers.
Paul reminded that when hotels set up business in the villages, they seek cooperation from locals, promising them business opportunities in return. “This is the bond that exists between the hotels and the locals. How come these outsiders are coming to displace the locals from their business?” he questioned.
Sarpanch Dixon Vaz told the media that he has urged SP South, Tikam Singh, to probe into the operation of the outsider taxi drivers, operating without badges. “We have no idea about the background of these drivers. They have no badge. Our locals have to wait for a year to obtain a badge after police clearance. How come these taxi drivers pick up customers even without a badge?” he questioned.
Saying that Goans are not creating any law and order situation, Dixon has demanded that the Goa government make the badge mandatory for all taxi drivers.
SP Tikam Singh told the media that the police have taken action against the complaints lodged by the groups, warning that the police will act against those creating law and order situations.
