MAPUSA
The conflict between North Goa Tourist Taxi and North Goa Rent-a-Cab owners reached a flash point on Wednesday, with members of both the associations gathering at Dolphin Circle, Calangute, and demanding action on illegalities against each other.
Unsuspecting tourists were caught in the crossfire, as a large police force “ Calangute Police, traffic police and enforcement cell of transport department “ were literally forced by members of both groups to stop vehicles and challan the offenders.
Over 50 tourist taxis and private vehicles were reportedly challaned by authorities for various offences till late in the evening.
Although the situation was tensed, no untoward incident was reported.
Offensive and boisterous members on both sides let tempers fly against each other and physically stopped tourist taxis and vehicles driven by tourists and directing them towards the police.
Members of the tourist taxi owners were first to arrive at the Dolphin Circle and called up the police and other authorities to take action on the private car rentals.
No sooner the message went around, the rent-a-cab owners also gathered near the site and asked police to take action on defaulting tourist taxis.
Speaking to the media, Vinayak Nanoskar, secretary of the North Goa Tourist Taxi Owner’s Association, said the rent-a-cab owners misunderstood the High Court order and burst fire crackers near the tourist taxi stand.
“These people ply vehicles illegally and then go and file cases in the court. What moral right do the rent-a-cab owners have to take credit of the court order,” Nanoskar asked.
He said from Wednesday, the tourist taxi owners will continue to gather at various places and call up the police to take action on illegal private rental vehicles.
According to Vassudev Arlekar, President of NGTTOA, the government should decide either way based on the HC order.
“Government should either give licence to the rent-a-cab owners or stop them of doing business,” Arlekar said.
“Since police and enforcement cell of the transport department failed to take action against illegal business carried by the private owners, we had to step in and come on roads,” he added.
North Goa Rent-a-Cab Owners Association President Ramdas Palkar blamed the government for the issue to come to such a pass.
“The indecision of the government has led to such a situation where we had no other option but to come on road,” Palkar said.
He warned that if the situation went out of control then the government would be solely responsible for it.
“If there is any violence, then the BJP government will be responsible for the untoward situation,” Palkar said.
