PANJIM: BJP’s key alliance partner MGP’s Ramkrishna Sudin Dhavalikar courted a major controversy with his comments on doning bikinis on beaches, foreign tourists and the State’s pub culture. Since his comments pertained to type of tourism the State should pursue VIBHA VERMA spoke to Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar to throw light on the issue.
Herald: How do you, as Tourism Minister of the State react to PWD minister Ramkrishna Dhavalikar’s controversial remark on Goa’s pub culture, wearing bikinis on beaches and foreign tourists?
PARULEKAR: This is his personal opinion. But, with Goa being an international tourist destination, we cannot prohibit our visitors from wearing bikinis or going to pubs.
However, we can certainly restrict tourists from dressing skimpily at religious places such as temples, churches, mosque, et al and at public places like markets. As of now, tourists wear decent clothes at religious places even though they are in bikinis on the beaches.
About our Goan women, they are not in bikinis at public places and they are barely in short clothes; neither are they seen in large numbers at night clubs and pubs.
Herald: Do you feel that his remark will affect tourism in Goa?
PARULEKAR: We cannot ban tourists in bikinis at private swimming pools and beaches. I again say we have to make efforts to bring in more and more tourists to this coastal State because we are dependent on tourism industry for revenue. If everything is banned then the industry will collapse.
About his comment on closure of pubs, Government already has its law in place about restricting its operations near religious places and schools…and where they already exists, a close watch are kept on their timings and other aspects. Not all Goans drink liquor. This is a tourist hub, not a holy place where restrictions are fully applicable. But yes, these restrictions are certainly appropriate at certain places.
Herald: The PWD minister is also quoted as saying that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar agrees with his views. What is your take on this?
PARULEKAR: No. Nothing like this (refuting Dhavalikar’s claims).
Herald: How do you react to Dhavalikar’s other comment that massage centres are against Indian culture?
PARULEKAR: Non-licensed massage centres and spas, and also those which double up as prostitution dens should be banned. Police should continue cracking down on such illegal establishments.
There are however a few non-tarnished ones which operate legally. My constituency is an example as not a single ayurvedic centre and similar establishments have been raided. These are licensed and no prostitution activity takes place, because we keep a constant watch on them.
