MAPUSA
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte on Monday publicly apologised to Union Minister of State of Tourism Shripad Naik for the gaffe of not inviting him for the inauguration of the Dona Paula jetty and further assured that such things will not happen in future.
Khaunte also disclosed that he has met Shirpad Naik and personally apologised for the embarrassment caused to him.
“Such type of negligence is not acceptable. He is our union minister. As a tourism minister I take the onus and convey my due apologies. It is the fault of a particular person…It is our department and therefore, it is our responsibility,” Khaunte said.
He said if the tourism department has faulted then it should ensure that such things are not repeated and it should not happen in future.
Khaunte had on Saturday inaugurated the Dona Paula jetty which was refurbished under Swadesh Darshan, a central government funded scheme. The event stoked a controversy after Union Minister Shripad Naik who is also the North Goa MP was not invited for the function.
On Sunday, Naik expressed his displeasure against his own government for repeatedly ignoring protocol requirement of inviting him to inaugural events of Central government-funded projects in his North Goa parliamentary constituency.
Incidentally, Revenue Minister and Panaji MLA, Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate and his wife Taleigao MLA, Jennifer Monserrate and son CCP Mayor Rohit Monserrate also gave a miss to the inaugural function.
Disapproving the attempt to create a controversy on fees charged to visit the renovated Dona Paula jetty, Khaunte said that new restored tourist places need to be maintained and by charging fees, the State government was following a convention which was followed in other parts of India and world over.
“If you want to enter Agra, Indians need to pay Rs 50 and foreigners Rs 1,100. Similarly, Rs 40 is charged at Fatepur Sikri and Rs 45 in Qutub Minar,” he said, while rationalizing the fee of Rs 50 charged to visit Dona Paula jetty.
“And only tourists will be charged, not locals,” he added.
