the goan I network
PANAJI
Goa Forward Party supremo Vijai Sardessai, party minister Jayesh Salgaonkar and BJP MLA Michael Lobo, who remained present at the Azad Maidan in Panaji on Friday, were at the receiving end after the crowd booed them for refusing to come on to the stage and speak in support of the tourist taxi operators.
The trio refused to come up on the stage to address the gathered crowd, which only angered the taxi owners further. Though they remained seated among the crowds for good half an hour, Sardessai and Salgaonkar chose not to address the crowd even after several agitating union leaders dared them to.
North Goa Tourist Taxi Owners’ Association president Laxman “Bappa” Korgaonkar thundered, “We felt good that you came, as if you have come to condole us at a funeral. All three of you have come as if to dig our grave. We reduced you from 21 to 13 and we can do better still. When in opposition, Vijai had almost ripped out Manohar Parrikar’s tongue. Why are you scared of (Ramakrishna “Sudin”) Dhavalikar now?”
After a wait of almost 15 minutes, Calangute MLA Lobo rose to the stage flanked by GF minister Vinoda Paliencar and under tight police security. Surrounded by police personnel, Lobo voiced the government’s appeal to the taxi owners requesting them to withdraw the strike. “I know that you are angry at us. We are with you. We understand your difficulty. We know why you have come on the roads. Speed governor is the main reason and it should be installed on all vehicles. But these are Supreme Court recommendations to the central government for commercial vehicles,” he sought to explain.
He then attempted to request the protestors to withdraw the strike by saying, “Though the central government notification asked us to implement it, state government had delayed it by six months. But going on strike in a small state like Goa inconveniences Goans, you as well as other businesses. Let us find a solution to this.”
The angry outburst of the taxi owners grew louder with every word Lobo spoke and he was prevented from finishing his speech. Taxi owners’ union leader Korgaonkar was quick in dismissing Lobo’s assurances as ‘empty words. “Come armed with written assurance from the government and come in the morning like one of us. We don’t trust you anymore,” he lashed out at Lobo and Vijai.
Red-faced, GF leaders and Lobo left within 30 minutes.
