MAPUSA
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has threatened to launch a public movement if the government fails to issue a notification exempting payment of taxes for all commercial vehicles during the lockdown period.
AAP said the taxi owners, transport carriers and other commercial vehicle owners were struggling to find business and were compelled to pay exorbitant fines and taxes.
“The government has to realise the genuine hardships of these people who are in distress and take immediate action and not make mere statements,” said Manuel Cardozo, AAP coordinator for Calangute.
The AAP leaders submitted a memorandum to the Assistant Director of Transport Department, Mapusa Madan Fatarpekar over concerns of unreasonable challans and penalties being issued to taxi operators and other commercial vehicle owners.
AAP leaders Mario Cordeiro, Anthony D’Souza and some vehicle owners were also present.
Speaking further, Cardozo said the transport minister has been lying to the people of Goa regarding waiving of passenger and other taxes in the transport department.
“The chief minister and the transport minister claimed that the transport department has waived off taxes for the lockdown period, including the dreaded passenger tax, which is an absolute lie as there is no notification to that effect issued by your department till date. Was it a jumla?” Cardozo questioned.
He called for the transport minister’s apology and demanded issuing of the notification immediately, failing which AAP would launch a public movement to expose the minister’s lies.
It may be recalled, the cabinet last month had granted approval to the Goa, Daman and Diu Motor Vehicle Tax (Amendment) ordinance, 2020 exempting payment of road tax during the period of March to September this year for all commercial vehicles.
AAP lends support to lifeguards
MAPUSA: Lending its support to the lifeguards who are on fast unto death in Mapusa, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday said the government should look into their demands sympathetically and consider the request to absorb them into service. “The lifeguards should be absorbed either in the human resources department or the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC). They have put in more than 10 years of service,” said Rahul Mhambre, covenor of AAP.
