the goan I network
MARGAO
Office bearers of the Gor Banjara Samaj on Tuesday descended at Benaulim to find out the issue between local tourist taxi operators and a Laamani who had ventured into tourist taxi business, even as most of the stalls and shops operated by the migrants in Benaulim remained shut for the second day on Tuesday.
Ganesh Laamani, who is a general secretary of the Gor Banjara Samaj, who came down to Benaulim on Tuesday, met Vasu Laamani, who had ventured into the tourist taxi business at Benaulim, evoking strong protests from the local tourist taxi operators.
Ganesh Laamani, Vasu and others are believed to have later approached the Colva police station in connection with the matter. The samaj is believed to have taken the stand that Vasu has been staying in the village with his family for a long time now.
Meanwhile, the stalls operated by the migrants along the Benaulim beach road remained shut after they were closed by the irate tourist taxi operators in protest over the entry of the migrant into the tourist taxi business.
The tourist taxi operators have shut down the stalls ostensibly to bring pressure on the migrants operating the stalls to persuade Vasu to withdraw from plying his tourist taxi in the village.
Local tourist taxi operators claim that the tourist taxi operations is the only business that is being left with the Goan youth and that the migrants should not venture into the traditional business of the locals.
Meanwhile, all eyes are focused on the special gram sabha meeting of the Benaulim panchayat scheduled on Wednesday on the occasion of Goa Liberation Day. Sources said that the issue over migrants venturing into the traditional tourist taxi business may be raised at the special gram sabha on Wednesday.
