I will not allow Sunburn in my constituency: Min Palyekar

Team Herald

PANJIM: The sun isn’t going to shine all too quickly for the organisers of the biggest EDM festival in the country, Sunburn, that left Goa to go to Pune. As attempts are being made for their re-entry courtesy the Tourism Minister Manohar (Babu) Azgaonkar of the MGP (as reported only in Herald on Aug 24), the MLA of Siolim and WRD Minister of Goa Forward Party Vinod Palyekar has vowed not to allow  Sunburn in his constituency, calling the organisers “defaulters”. Sunburn plans to hold its festival in Vagator, which is a part of Palyekar’s constituency.

It clearly looks to be a battle royale between two ministers belonging to two parties who are allies in the BJP-led government.

Palyekar, who has been critical of late night and drug-laced parties, alleged that the festival was in the news over an incident of a death due to drug overdose in the past. The organisers had clearly denied that it was linked to any consumption inside their festival.

“I would like to make it clear that government shall not entertain defaulters like organisers of Sunburn to come back in the State. I would not allow the festival to happen in my Siolim constituency. We know how in the past drug cases have happened during the Sunburn and it was utter chaos in Anjuna,” he said, reacting to the Herald report that the organisers of Sunburn, Percept Live, were in talks with the government.

“I am for good tourism in the State and we need to have a Tourism Policy in order to attract quality tourists who will come and spend heavily and in return would get quality time in the State. We cannot allow brand Goa’s name to get tarnished at any cost,” he said further. 

The Sunburn organisers are eager to make a comeback but not until “certain issues” with the authorities are settled, whereas Goa government has decided to grant permission provided Percept Live pay the pending dues to Commercial Taxes Department and Goa Police. 

During a high level meeting with Tourism Minister Manohar ‘Babu’ Azgaonkar and other tourism officials, Percept Live Chairman and Managing Director Harinder Singh put forth the conditions while the government panel remained adamant claiming ‘no Sunburn till the dues are cleared’. 

After Candolim, the oldest EDM in Goa had shifted its venue to Vagator, and then last year to Pune after the government had put its foot down on the dates, selection of venues and payment of dues.