AERIAL VIEW
So now the question that arises is that when the same minister justifies the Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill, why cannot ask the CHief MInister Dr Pramod Sawant to bring another legislation to help the local taxi operators, the sons of the soil? Why this double standard Mr Godinho?
Mr Godinho speaks this as he knows the taxi operators are not his vote bank, and migrants are. Otherwise, he would have done 100 rounds to Delhi to get the issue resolved.
If the Govt can propose to regularise thousands of migrant houses under the guise of the Bhumiputra Bill, why can’t it make efforts to save taxi operators from High Court order?
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
Even as the storm on the Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill, which grants rights to the person who resides in Goa for 30 years to regularise his illegal dwelling, is yet to settle down, the State government has made another anti-Goan announcement.
On Wednesday, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho, who is often termed as Minister for Migrants for his pro-migrant statements, announced that government would cancel around 3000-odd taxi permits as they have not fitted the digital taxi meters.
“Permits of the 2934 taxis will be cancelled as per the High Court directive. They have no alternative, and I too have no choice but to cancel their permits for not complying with the High Court order,” Godinho said.
So now the question that arises is that when the same minister justifies the Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill, why cannot ask the CHief MInister Dr Pramod Sawant to bring another legislation to help the local taxi operators, the sons of the soil? Why this double standard Mr Godinho?
Mr Godinho speaks this as he knows the taxi operators are not his vote bank, and migrants are. Otherwise, he would have done 100 rounds to Delhi to get the issue resolved.
If the Govt can propose to regularise thousands of migrant houses under the guise of the Bhumiputra Bill, why can’t it make efforts to save taxi operators from High Court order?
If there is a High Court order, why is the order not challenged in the Supreme Court yet? If the politicians can come with an ordinance to save a hotelier overnight, then anything is possible.
Another inhuman side of Godinho comes to the fore is when he says permits would be cancelled if digital meters are nt fixed but does he know where will the money come from to pay 50 p.c of the digital meter charge.
For almost 18 months now, they are sitting home without any business besides paying EMIs, Insurance, Vehicles maintenance and family expenses. How will they manage this additional burden?
It seems like the government is going that extra mile to help GoaMiles, the app-based taxi.
Agreed, there have been complaints against the taxi operators at times, but that does not mean the government completely disowns them.
How long will our politicians (general) continue to appease the migrants? Are locals and sons of the soil no more relevant to our politicians? Are our votes no more relevant?
It’s high time the Goans rise against the pseudo-politics before we become strangers in our land.
The migrants are already getting everything free as they stay in illegal houses without paying any taxes, getting government jobs here after 15 years of residence, health facilities for free, availing all government schemes like DSSS, Griha Aadhar, Ladli Laxmi and the Health insurance schemes.
On Godinho’s statement, see the audacity of this person who makes a pro-migrant statement one day and very next day an anti-Goan announcement.
With elections just around the corner, the Goans are sure to teach the politicians a lesson on two.
