the goan I network
MARGAO
The battle between the BJP and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat to claim credit for the issuance of 43 taxi permits for the tourist taxi operators seems to be far from over.
Two days after PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar announced that the permit issue was raised by him with the Margao MLA, the Margao unit of the BJP on Monday took on Kamat, setting him a 48-hour deadline to unveil the names of people involved in extorting Rs 25 lakh to issue the permits or quit office.
The BJP leaders reminded that whatever development is being ushered across the state and carried out by PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar is being done by the government headed by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
Addressing the media, BJP leader Chandan Nayak dared the Margao MLA to unveil the names of the people demanding Rs 25 lakh each from the tourist taxi operators for the taxi permits. “We give 48 hours to the Margao MLA to announce the names of the people demanding money or else he should quit office,” he said, adding that the BJP is capable to usher in development of Margao constituency without Kamat. While pointing out that Kamat will be completing 25 years since his election as Margao MLA in 1994, Chandan demanded that the MLA should explain to Madgavkars why he has failed to address many a developmental issue plaguing the city.
In his address, BJP leader Sharmad Raiturcar said the saffron party does not want to claim credit for the issuance of the taxi permits. He, however, explained the role played by RTA member Chandan Nayak for accommodating all the 43 taxi drivers. “One should know that the Collector had issued a note that only 13 taxi drivers could be given taxi permits. It is the BJP government and the RTA member Chandan Nayak’s intervention that forced the Collector to do a rethink.”
