Withdraw increase in ferry fares immediately: AAP

Velim MLA Engr Cruz Silva lashed out at the Govt for making a mockery of the common man, and said River Navigation portfolio needs to be managed better instead of further burdening the aam aadmi. Raising the issue of Solar Ferry, Silva reminded that the BJP Govt spent 4-5 crores on it, but used it for hardly 2 months. He lambasted the River Navigation Minister Subhash Phaldessai for blaming the deterioration of the expensive vessel on rats, when it was the fault of the Govt for giving the operation to a non-qualified person when there were qualified Goans available to run and maintain the solar ferry. He demanded that the loss should be recovered from the operator, instead of from the Goan commuters.

Benaulim MLA Capt. Venzy Viegas stated that it now time to teach a lesson to the BJP Govt for making life increasingly difficult by increasing prices of everything. Viegas said BJP has not upgraded the ferries, but are now upgrading the fares. Stating that world over ferries are being run with hydrogen power, he chided the Goa Govt for not being able to even run one solar powered ferry properly. Viegas repeated his charge that this Govt is supporting “rich Vermas and Sharmas” by reducing tax on their luxury cars and on their imported liquor, but recovering the cost of its corruption from the common man.

Working President Gerson Gomes lashed out at the Minister Subhash Phaldessai’s statement that Goans can afford the increase, stating that BJP has emptied the state coffers by indulging in massive corruption in order to buy MLAs of other parties, and is now passing on the cost to ordinary Goans.

Cuncolim leader and Jt. Secretary Prashant Naik said that the fare increase is another step by the BJP to burden the common Goenkar even more than he already is, with the Govt raising price of everything from ferry fares to electricity to traffic fines.

AAP Seafarers cell leader Paul Lobo condemned the BJP Govt for forcing Goans to come on the streets every few days due to anti-people policies and decisions, and said this Govt was an embarrassment for Goa because it has to tax even 2-wheelers on ferry routes.

Vice-President Roque Mascarenhas from Curtorim lashed out at the local MLA Reginald Lourenco for betraying Raia villagers by joining BJP and supporting such decisions that burden the common man of his constituency.