PANAJI
Aam Aadmi Party has urged the Goa government to stop ignoring the urgent issue of financial relief to the common man, stating that extension of the Covid restrictions cannot be an isolated decision.
Pointing out that other states have already followed AAP’s Delhi model, State convenor Rahul Mhambre said CM Pramod Sawant is pretending to be asleep on the issue, waking up only when Casinos call for relief.
Welcoming Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho’s statement that Rs 100 crore out of 300 crore Liberation Day fund should be used to compensate families of Covid victims, Mhambre said that the remaining Rs 200 crore should also be used for direct benefit to the common man.
“If CM could waive Rs 277 crore in annual fees for his Casino friends last year, why can’t he do the same for his Goan family? He should offer a similar waiver of all annual fees and taxes for Goan businesses such as shacks, B&Bs, bars, taxis, tourist buses, and other small businesses, especially stakeholders from the tourism industry who have struggled and suffered since March last year,” Mhambre said.
Mhambre also demanded waiver of trade license fees, shops and establishment tax, house tax and other annual fees for shops and offices which have been closed down due to Covid restrictions.
Accusing Sawant of announcing an “Economic Revival Committee” last year only for headline management, Mhambre said that even suggestions by industry bodies such as GCCI, CII, TTAG, GSIA were thrown in the bin.
Mhambre informed that AAP volunteers have responded to several SOS requests from self-employed Goans like rickshaw drivers, taxi drivers and small shop owners, as some of them are struggling to even put food on the table for their families.
“Sawant has no hesitation to commit hundreds of crores of rupees on non-urgent infrastructure with inflated costs. Even the funds of the much-touted schemes have not been received for months by the beneficiaries at a time when they are needed the most,” Mhambre said.
Mhambre informed that many states are following Arvind Kejriwal’s unique relief measures for the common man.
“Even Karnataka’s BJP government has announced a relief package to taxi & rickshaw drivers similar to that given by the AAP government in Delhi,” Mhambre revealed.
