Goa taxi operators withdraw strike after Parrikar assures action 

Panaji: Goa taxi operators withdrew their two-day strike here today, giving respite to thousands of tourists who were left stranded at various places. The strike was withdrawn after Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar met protestors and discussed eleven major demands placed by the taxi operators.[caption id=“attachment_1409697” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. PTI[/caption] At the meeting, it was decided to form a task force, headed by Parrikar, which would solve six of their major demands within a week while the rest of them would be addressed in a phased manner. Addressing reporters after the meeting, Parrikar said the state government would form a special squad to crack down on foreigners who arrive here on tourist visa and work as taxi drivers. “Foreigners found running such a business without proper documents will be caught and deported,” Parrikar said. Taxi operators had complained that several Russians had doubled up as taxi drivers in the coastal belt, severely denting the business of native taxi operators. The chief minister also said taxi operators have also been asked to be courteous towards tourists so that the taxi business does not die out. The state has around 7,000 taxis running, which are mostly centered in the tourist belt. PTI