Demonetisation: AAP warns of economic and social chaos
Wants State govt to take precautionary measures
THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Goa unit, on Tuesday demanded that special concessions be given to the tourism sector in the State to allow them to accept the demonetised notes.
The party has said the central government's demonitisation move has critically hit tourism areas, whose entire season is being wiped out due to the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes.
The party has pointed to small business and vendors as being the most affected by the central decision as was evident from their local survey. At a press conference AAP Panaji candidate Valmiki Naik said, “The disastrous consequences of the unplanned and reckless step to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes have now become apparent. In most places, small businesses, vendors, shopkeepers, etc, are reporting a drop in their business by an average of 70 per cent.”
Naik said tourism in the State, that is the backbone of the Goan economy was reeling from the effects of demonetisation. “The State government needs to take bold and proactive steps to ensure that the livelihoods of tourism dependent Goans are not trampled by the disastrous decision of demonetisation without basic planning for its implementation,” he said.
“The State government should come out with a plan to ensure that the entire tourist season, which already started late due to their failure to allot shacks on time, does not get washed out, by allowing them to accept the demonetised notes,” demanded Naik, adding that a failure to do so would result in an increase in economic and social chaos.
AAP also demanded that the BJP show its seriousness towards tackling black money by declaring the source of its cash funding.
“Instead of hiding more than 80 per cent of their funding behind legal loopholes, the BJP should declare its unknown sources of money,” said Naik.
Questioning how a cash-driven economy can survive without liquidity, AAP spokesperson Dr Oscar Rebello said, “People are putting up with this in the hope that it may be a good decision; however, the common man is not at all appeased by the move.”
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AAP declares candidates for four constituencies
PANAJI: The Aam Aadmi Party, on Tuesday, announced its fifth list of candidates for the Goa Legislative Assembly elections.
The Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of AAP, headed by National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, has confirmed the candidature for the constituencies of Navelim, Cumbharjua, Quepem and Saligao.
48-year-old Siddharth Karapurkar is the AAP candidate from Navelim. Production engineer, Karapurkar is a social activist for farmers rights and environment protection and has been associated with the Goa Bachao Abhiyan.
Cumbharjua candidate, Prakash Dattaram Naik is a teacher and AAP State secretary. He holds a BA degree and had participated in the Official Language agitation in the mid-1980s.
61-year-old Manuel Colaco who has served as councillor and chairperson of the Quepem Municipal Council will contest from Quepem constituency.
56-year-old Pradeep Padgaonkar will contest from Saligao. He has worked as a visual media journalist, an actor, quiz master and social worker.
