MARGAO: Goa Forward Party President and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai on Wednesday stopped the shooting of a Marathi television show at Ravindra Bhavan and blamed the Mumbai based visitors for spreading COVID infections.
It is pertinent to note that due to the lockdown in Mumbai, where the cases have increased tremendously, most shootings have descended upon Goa, where presently around 20 units are shooting at various locations.
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Vijai pointed out that at Ravindra Bhavan there was not a single Goan present on the unit, that was shooting a Marathi television serial and although Audhoot Gupte, the producer of the show, had obtained all necessary permissions, Vijai alleged that the permissions were obtained by bribing.
“This government is quite weird as there are restrictions put for Goans but outsiders (like this unit) has no restrictions whatsoever and many of them have been moving around without even wearing a mask,” said Vijai pointing out that the unit was not maintaining any form of social distancing.
While asserting that Goans have no benefit absolutely from the ongoing shooting, he said it was only a ‘money making racket’ where Goans were put to risk.
It is learnt that the unit arrived in Goa on April 26 and started shooting the very next day. Audoot informed that they had considered shooting in Gujarat, but later opted for Goa as the culture is similar to that of Maharashtra.
Vijai while stopping the shooting on Wednesday said he will visit Ravindra Bhavan again on Thursday and stop the shooting if they continue with it there.
The chairman of Ravindra Bhavan Margao is former MLA Damodar alias Damu Naik who is known Vijai’s bête noire.
