PANAJI
The All Goa Taxi Association on Tuesday staged a demonstration outside the Paryatan Bhavan at Patto-Panaji, to protest against the hiring of vehicles from outside the State for election duty.
The Election Commission has reportedly requisitioned the services of 50 tourist vehicles for election duty, and these vehicles were brought in from Maharashtra on Monday.
"The business of Goan taximen has been encroached upon by taxi operators from outside the State. This is injustice,” complained Chetan Kamat of All Goa Taxi Association while addressing the agitating taxi operators during the demonstration.
He said rent-a-cab taxis from Maharashtra and Karnataka have been roped by the Election Commission for election-related work.
“Does Goa not have taxis for election duties,” asked Kamat, while warning authorities that taximen may stop taxis from outside the State from plying on election duty.
The decision to seek the services of 50 tourist vehicles from outside the State has also upset tourist taxi operators from Pernem taluka.
“Why should the business be given to non-Goans when such vehicles are readily available in the State,” asked a visibly agitated tourist taxi leader President Sanjay Kole on Monday.
