No bikini ban on Goa’s beaches: CM navhindtimes.in/?p=56808PANAJI: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday ruled out the possibility of banning wearing of bikinis on the state’s beaches, but said the government would stop people from drinking in public and act tough against those indulging in sale of liquor beyond the permissible hours. Responding to a query during briefing after a cabinet meeting, Parrikar also said that he was not aware of the statement made by Public Works Department Minister Ramkrishna Dhavlikar, and that the views expressed by the PWD Minister were his own and not part of the government policy. “From whatever was told to me by the PWD Minister after the news reports I believe there was nothing objectionable,” he stated, adding that he did not thing there was anything wrong with that statement. “I found no substance in the statement so as to act in the matter,” he stated but added that it was not government’s stated position. The Chief Minister also said different newspapers and electronic media has given different versions as regards to the comments which indicated that the media was confused and has perhaps not understood what he (Dhavlikar) meant to say. He further said that the media had earlier distorted his own statement on women and rape. Declaring that the government would not allow abuse of freedom, he stated that the government would interfere if there was any law and order problem and nuisance created by those indulging in drinking in public places. Stating that the government would act against those selling liquor for consumption in public places and people creating nuisance and law and order situation, he said that people who wanted to drink could do so in restaurants and pubs. He further said the government has already started action against those violating excise laws and cancelled licence of a bar located at St Inez. Dhavlikar was reported to have told media that wearing of bikinis should be banned on the state’s beaches. He is reported to have said that allowing girls with bikinis to enter public places makes it very difficult to control people who arrive in Goa from different states. “By the time a victim reaches the police, it is too late,” he was reported to have stated. The PWD Minister had earlier courted discontentment for his remark that visits of young girls to pubs in short dresses was against Goan culture “Visit to the pubs by young girls in short dresses does not fit in our culture. What will happen to our Goan culture if we allow this?” he is reported to have told to media during an interaction. Responding to a query on Kasturirangan report, Parrikar said the Centre has asked the state to file a reply within two months but the state government would seek extension of time limit (six months) as a survey that was necessary could not be undertaken during monsoon season and that there was a need to find experts to carry out study and survey before submitting it to the Centre. He also said that there would not be any water scarcity as the monsoon would revive itself over the next few days. “Monsoon would be aggressive from July 8 onwards,” he said quoting a metrological department forecast. He said that because of El-Nino effect monsoon had weakened but was set to revive.
Posted on: Wed, 02 Jul 2014 19:50:47 +0000
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