PANJIM: After courting controversy over his remark to ban ‘Lamanis’ on beaches, illegal businesses carried out by foreigners, including Nigerians, are on the target list of Tourism Minister Manohar (Babu) Azgaonkar.

“Government will crackdown on illegal doers, whosoever it may be. I won’t tolerate even if the Nigerians are found doing illegal business,” he said. Asked whether foreigners are allowed to do business in the State, he said that government would protect legal businesses.

The minister reiterated that his comments on ‘Lamanis’ were mistakenly picked by some news channels resulting in controversy. “Goa is God’s gift and tourists throng to this State because of its natural beauty. I myself belong to the Scheduled Caste. We work at the grassroots level to rise up. We never go by anyone’s caste,” he said.

Asked to comment on the FIR registered in a Pune court on the issue, Azgaonkar feigned ignorance and said, “I have not received any summons.”

Advocate Ramesh Khemu Rathod of Pune on Wednesday filed a criminal complaint against the minister in a Pune court. A case has been registered under sections of the Indian Penal Code.