Team Herald
PANJIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant censured members of the Progressive Front of Goa (PFG) for their ‘advice’ to tourists to reconsider their plans to visit the coastal State for New Year celebrations.
Without naming the NGO, a visibly upset Chief Minister warned to take action against anyone threatening the visitors from entering Goa.
“Nobody should take the law for granted. Some people are saying there will be protests on the issue of Mhadei water diversion and not allow tourists in Goa. It (Goa) is nobody’s property. What do you mean by such statements?” he said, while speaking on the law and order situation in the State, ahead of the New Year festivities.
Dr Sawant said that people are free to hold protests, but within the law and that instigating remarks would attract legal action.
“Hold protests, but it should be within the law. Hold agitation but do not trouble the locals and tourists,” he said, while adding that elements who have been working against the interest of Goa should be “kept aside”.
To oppose Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) Minister Prakash Javadekar’s u-turn on Mhadei, PFG has decided to intensify its agitation on December 31, at a time when the footfalls in the State escalate. The NGO also asked tourists to think twice before coming to Goa as the protest could hamper their visit, a statement that also worried Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) who had advised people to refrain from making provocative statements that could affect tourism.
