PANAJI
All Goa Private Bus Owners Association (AGPBOA) general secretary Sudip Tamankar said that the Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho has made misleading statements in the Assembly while speaking on public transport, particularly in relation to taxi owners and bus operators.Speaking to reporters at Azad Maidan on Wednesday, Tamankar said the minister made a shocking statement that even as the airfare from Goa to Mumbai is Rs 2,000, his friend was charged Rs 3,000 as taxi fare for travelling from the airport to Panaji.
“I travel to Mumbai often and the airfare is around Rs 5,000. Also, if his friend was charged Rs 3,000 by the taxi owner, then why was action not initiated against the taxi owner by the minister,” asked Tamankar.
On the statement that the minister had nothing against them, Tamankar sought to know why were they not given an appointment by the minister.
“We have sought an appointment with the minister so that we can hold dialogue as we are more concerned about providing better public transport as we earn our livelihood on it. But going by his behaviour towards us, we feel that he has something against us as he does not even entertain us,” he added.
“Godinho further says that he has waived off penalty on road tax and also six months road tax when the same was done only after directives from the court,” Tamankar stated.
He also contested the claims that free meters were provided to taxi owners even though a few got subsidy on the same.
On statements of adopting bad practices, Tamankar said they are brand ambassadors of tourism who are sought to be maligned by certain quarters. On the need of introducing sharing taxis, he said they are ready to start the same but the initiative should come from the government.
On remarks that in certain hotels, tyres of vehicles are punctured if they go to pick up guests, Tamankar questioned whether the law and order had collapsed in the State.
“Why is the minister not complaining to the police? Are they not listening to him?” he posed.
Finally, Tamankar challenged that a breach of privilege be moved against him for his utterances against the statements of the minister when the Assembly is ongoing so that there is face-to-face debate, which will provide a clear picture to the public.
'Govt to be blamed for delay in VP polls'
PANAJI: Stating that it is wrong on the part of panchayat minister Mauvin Godinho to blame the State Election Commission (SEC) for the delay in the panchayat elections, AGPBOA General Secretary Sudip Tamankar blamed the government for dilly-dallying on the issue so that the same could be delayed.
“The SEC has been giving dates for the panchayat elections to the government but it was the government which was not cooperating with them as they wanted to delay the panchayat elections,” Tamankar said and informed that it was only after the HC directives that the government was forced to hold the elections.
