Panaji, July 7 (TNN): Tourist taxi owners staged a huge dharna in the city on Monday to protest against government's decision to lift a moratorium on rent-a-car permits.

Gathered in large numbers at Azad Maidan, the tourist taxi owners warned the government of their intention to intensify the agitation if the decision is not revoked.

Coastal MLAs and independent Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai visited the tourist taxi owners at Azad Maidan to show their solidarity. The tourist taxi drivers are also not happy with the government mandating that all tourist taxis should install meters.

Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, who extended full support to the agitating tourist taxi owners, raised the question: why meters have been made compulsory when recently transport department had declared point-to-point fare to be charged by the tourist taxis.

He also pointed out that while hotels have to display rate charts they haven't done it yet, while tourism department is not co-operating in this matter. He made the statement while addressing the media at the Azad Maidan.

Sardesai, while addressing tourist taxi owners, accused the government of siding with outsiders. He said tourist taxi owners should not take things lying down. They should take to the streets if their demand is not met by the government.

"This government is not of Goans," he said. He also urged tourist taxi drivers not to allow the forthcoming monsoon session of Goa Assembly to happen if government does not change its decision. The monsoon session of Goa legislative assembly is slated to start from July 26.

Tourist taxi owners fear that by lifting the moratorium on rent-a-car permits, the government plans to allow back door entry to car service operators from outside the state. Entry of more tourist taxis means less or no business for the existing taxi operators who feel the market is already crowded with too many operators.

Earlier in the day, Congress leader and Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco also met the tourist taxi owners and extended his support.