Panaji, Oct 25 : Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai on Wednesday mocked the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for stating that a new rule will be enacted to arrest owners of ‘rent a car or a bike’ along with drivers involved in accidents killing people on the road.
“Chief Minister has jumped the gun. It is some sort of knee-jerk reaction. It was not expected from the Chief Minister. By this logic he will tomorrow say that as the Regional Transport Office has given the license, then even they (RTO officers) should be arrested? Person doing rash and negligent driving is booked. Now he says even the owner will be arrested. How?,” he questioned, while addressing a press conference here.
“Rent a car facility was brought by the government, then why don’t you book the transport minister and put him in jail, why only rent a car owner,” he questioned.
“If we go by the logic of the Chief Minister then a full chain including RTO and the minister should be booked. Before talking like this he should first see whether his statement has legal support and also whether it can be implemented or not,” Sardesai said.
“Now new hafta (extortion) will start as the Chief Minister has given a statement over this issue. Police are starting avenues to collect haftas,” he alleged.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has warned those driving under the influence of alcohol and said the owners of ‘rent a car or a bike’ will be arrested along with drivers involved in accidents.
Sawant was referring to some accidents that took place involving rent-a-cars service which was taken by tourists while visiting the coastal state.
“Now-a-days accidents are taking place due to people failing to follow traffic rules. Recently, rent-a-car met with an accident because the driver was under the influence of alcohol. Such types of accidents are taking place due to rash and rough driving. Hence transport and police departments will have to act on such cases,” Sawant had said.
He said that in future the owner of rented car or bike will be arrested along with the one who takes it for rent if found involved in an accident killing other persons.
