MARGAO
Tourist taxi operators flexed their muscles on Friday as operators from both North and South Goa descended at the Colva police station demanding action against the owner of a Margao-based taxi aggregator for making what they called as derogatory comments against the tourist taxi operators.
The tourist taxi operators received the backing of the sarpanchas of the coastal villages of Benaulim, Varca and Cavelossim, who rallied behind the taximen in support of their demands.
They demanded registration of FIR against Parag Raikar for allegedly defaming the Association of tourist taxis on the social media and ruining their reputation.
In their complaint, they stated that Parag Raikar has launched an app-based taxi service, which is operating tourist taxicabs in the State of Goa which is in the business of ferrying tourists to and from their destination. “Parag Raikar is making defamatory statements against the taximen by calling us drunkards and making statements on social media that the taximen and vehicle operators are driving under the influence of alcohol and are solely motivated to do their jobs under the influence of alcohol. Parag Raikar has made a derogatory video and has circulated the same on the social media, mainly on WhatsApp,” they added.
The agitated tourist taxi operators demanded to know from Colva police station in-charge, PI Ritesh Tari whether the police is initiating action against Parag Raikar, pointing out that the police always move with alacrity whenever complaints are made against tourist taxi operators by drivers of GoaMiles taxis.
Cavelossim Sarpanch Dixon Vaz told the media in the presence of the tourist taxi operators that the sarpanchas along the coastal belt have all decided to rally behind the tourist taxi operators. “The comments made by Parag Raikar on the social media was in bad taste and derogatory in nature. The police should initiate action immediately against Parag Raikar. This can result in a law and order problem,” Dixon warned.
