Staff Reporter

Panaji

Members of Goan industry on Monday slammed the state government’s decision to declare May 10 as a paid holiday for the upcoming Karnataka elections.

Local industry associations, viz. the Goa State Industries Association (GSIA) and the GCCI sharply criticised the notification declaring May
10 as holiday.

GSIA, president, Damodar Kochkar said that, industries in the state feel it is an absolutely “absurd” decision which is indicative of taking industries to ransom for electoral gains.

“If it continues like this for every election it will be very difficult to do business in Goa,” said Kochkar. He added that, members of Goan industry are also looking out for legal remedies for, “the unilateral type of decision by the state government.”

“It is unprecedented that the Goa government is declaring a holiday for Karnataka elections,” said GCCI. The industry body said that, it opposes
the notification.

“Declaring holiday for elections in other state has never happened
in the past.

This will set a wrong precedent as holidays will be given for all types of elections in the neighbouring states,” said GCCI in a press statement. The criticism from local industry is in wake of economic activities picking up post-pandemic. Goan MSME units were badly hit by loss of production during the pandemic. Meanwhile several business owners have also said that, declaring holiday for Karnataka election is “bad idea on part of the government.”