PERNEM
The taxi operators continued their agitation in Pernem for the second day on Friday, as they insisted on a permanent resolution to their grievances over competition, services and fees at the Mopa airport.
At around 10.30 am on Friday, a large number of taxi operators gathered in front of Pernem Taluka Government Complex.
They began demanding the presence of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in Pernem to address their grievances. Speaking to reporters, leader of the taxi operators Bappa Korgaonkar questioned the chief minister for his reluctance to meet them in Pernem.
“The chief minister can go to Assagao to inspect a demolished house and meet the affected family, but is not willing to come here to Pernem to address the grievances of taxi operators,” said Korgaonkar. Pernem Deputy Collector Shiv Prasad Naik then interacted with the chief minister, but the taxi operators remained adamant and refused to go to Porvorim to meet him.
However, later in the afternoon, a 25-member delegation comprising representatives of different organisations and taxi operators proceeded to Panaji to meet with the chief minister. However, they were told that only a 10-member delegation would be permitted to meet Sawant.
Unhappy over this condition, the 25-member delegation returned to Pernem without meeting the chief minister and continued with their protest in the town.
