Mangalore: Will Take up Customs Issue Directly with PM - Oscar
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Aug 4: Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Oscar Fernandes on Saturday August 4 said that he will take the issue regarding Customs Act of 1967 (which allows male passengers to carry gold worth only Rs 10,000, and women gold worth Rs 20,000) to higher level and discuss it with the Prime Minister directly.
Speaking to Daijiworld during his visit to the city, he said that the issue can be directly discussed with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh without the need for placing it before the parliament.
When Daijiworld drew his attention to the harassment faced by NRIs at Mangalore airport due to the strict implementation of the archaic law by customs department, he said that he would study the matter.
“I will study the matter and will try to do whatever needs to be done in this matter. Taking into consideration the current gold prices we cannot impose a 5-decade old law that would give room for harassment of people”, he said.
"I am aware of the problems faced by the NRIs as many of them contacted me and explained their dilemma. Their concern is genuine - in 1967 the fine for carrying goods above the permissible limit was just Rs 100, but today it's in thousands. When the fine has increased over the years, how can the limit for gold remain the same?" he questioned.
He also visited the Morning Mist Resort at Padil and met some of the victims, and promised that the National Women’s Commission would look into the incident of attack on youngsters by hooligans and take necessary steps to punish the guilty.
Speaking to daijiworld on the sidelines of his visit to the homes of the victims Oscar Fernandes condemned the incident saying “this is not the only incident that has taken place in Managlore in the recent past. There have been many such incidents and sadly these incidents are repeating despite all the protests by the people. This has to be put to an end and strong action needs to be taken against the culprits”.
Further he said that it is heartening to note that the High Court of Karnataka has taken cognizance of the matter and has sought reports from the various departments of the state pertaining to the incident.
“I saw some of the videos clippings of the attack and it is distressing and sickening to see that some of these girls were brutally assaulted and physically lifted by those attackers. In is inhuman and no civilized person would ever carry out such shameful acts on harmless youngsters. It is a matter of shame for us all and we condemn it. They should be booked under the goonda act for criminal offences as the police have all the evidences to do so”, he declared.
When asked to comment on the personal remarks made by the State Women’s Commision Chairperson on the victims’s parents Oscar Fernandes said “I don’t want to comment on this. Let the National Women’s Commission come here and give us the report after talking to the victims and the people of the area”.
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