Panaji, Oct 25 – Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai on Wednesday mocked Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for stating that a new rule will be framed to arrest owners of ‘rent a car or a bike’ along with the drivers involved in accidents in which people are killed.
“The chief minister has jumped the gun. It is a knee-jerk reaction. It was not expected from the chief minister. By that logic he would tomorrow say that as the Regional Transport Office has given the license, then even they (RTO officers) should be arrested? A person indulging in 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 the rent a car owner,” he stated.
According to him, the owner of a rent a car business can be booked when the driver (whoever uses the rent a car) is involved in an accident.
“If we go by the logic of the chief minister then a full chain including the RTO and minister should be booked. He should not speak like that. Before speaking he should first see whether his statement has legal support and also whether it can be implemented,” Sardesai said.
“Now new ‘hafta’ will start as the chief minister has given this statement. The police are eyeing new avenues to collect hafta (bribe),” he alleged.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday warned those driving under the influence of alcohol and said the owners of ‘rent a car or a bike’ will be arrested along with the drivers involved in accidents killing people.
Sawant was referring to accidents that took place in the state involving rent-a-car services availed by tourists visiting the coastal state.
“Accidents are taking place due to people failing to follow traffic rules. Recently s rent-a-car vehicle met with an accident because the driver was under the influence of alcohol. These types of accidents are taking place due to rash and rough driving. Hence the transport and police departments will have to act in such cases,” Sawant had said.
He said that in future the owner of a rented car or bike will be arrested along with the person who rents it if found involved in an accident in which people are killed.
