PANJIM: Furious and upset Russian consular and embassy officials have lambasted the Goa government for its “shameless and frankly unfriendly gesture” to refuse permission “under false pretenses and at the last moment” to hold the International Music Festival ‘Great Live Music’ 2014, which was to be held at Baga from January 31 to February 1.
The festival was to feature Indian rock bands of international fame, including Indian Ocean and Parikrama besides other rock bands from Russia and other CIS countries.
Russian deputy counsel posted in Mumbai Alexey Mzareulov read out the official statement of the Russian Embassy in India at a press conference. Pg 2
When asked whether the decision was as a result of extortion demands from local politicians, Mzareulov said he wouldn’t give “his opinion on the internal decision making structures on the Indian side” and that “he didn’t care” (on the reasoning behind it) but that he knows that the “local government has cancelled the event during the high season in Goa.”
“Goa has provoked the loss for Indian-Russia relations,” he said adding that the decisions of the local government were “undermining the prosperity of thousands of Goan families, who are benefiting from the money the Russians bring into the local economy.
“The silent majority of Goan people will say something,” Mzareulov said adding that they have enough places to recommend the Russian tourists to go.
Alexander Antipin bureau chief of the Russian news agency Itar-Tass in India, who was also addressing the media, said that the top newspapers as well as Itar-Tass were keeping tabs on the developments involving Russians in Goa and felt that the cancellation of the festival would trigger adverse coverage back home.
“Think about what Russian tourists will say about this story when they go back to Russia. There are many who bought tickets especially to come to Goa to listen to Indian rock bands, not the Russian rock bands,” Antipin said adding that the Indian Ocean and Parikrama have already performed in Russia to a huge reception.
“Russians know that Indian rock is really professional,” he said.
