PANAJI
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee has called upon the BJP-led government to act responsibly and not to play with the health of Goans to secure its own selfish interests by allowing the organisation of Sunburn EDM Festival at Vagator in December this year.
Several members of Congress staged a protest on Friday outside Hotel Vivanta by Taj in Panaji, where Chairman and MD of Percept Ltd Harindra Singh, which organizes Sunburn, was scheduled to address the press at 3.30 pm. The protestors demanded a meeting with Singh in order to question him about the safety protocols and facilities that he will have at the event.
Demanding the state government to “Cancel Sunburn 2020”, Congress stressed that during a pandemic, “Goa needs treatment not entertainment”.
“He dared to address the press in Goa’s capital because he has the backing of the state government. He will mint money and leave without caring about the deaths that will follow. We had told them that we do not want Sunburn in Goa this year due to the ongoing pandemic. None of the SOPs will be followed. The government can barely implement the protocols in clubs, handling Sunburn is out of question,” said Congress leader Sankalp Amonkar.
Amonkar pointed out that Anjuna Panchayat recently conveneda gram sabha and unanimously opposed the event so as to safeguard public health. “How can an event be organised when the panchayat has refused to give permissions? The cases will rise 10 times. People will descend upon the state from all over the world for this event. If they don’t listen, they will have a law and order issue on their hands,” Amonkar warned.
Congressman Rudolf Fernandes questioned why the government is keen on allowing “these outsiders” to kill Goans. “If anyone dies due to Covid after this, we will hold the organisers and the government officials responsible,” he said.
Similarly, Congress leader Varad Mardolkar warned that the second wave of the pandemic is expected to hit Goa in November and December. “Despite this, the BJP government is allowing this super-spreader event to earn commissions under the name of public revenue. He stated, “The Tourism Minister just wants the show to go on to ensure that he earns his commission. Minister Govind Gaude has proved that he is the same. These two ministers will be held responsible for deaths due to Sunburn.”
Mardolkar further warned that this is not a music festival but a super-spreader event which will kill Goans and help a few rich men earn money. “It is a festival to sell liquor and drugs. Even while the Epidemic Act is in place and weddings are being denied permissions for having a guest list of more than 200 persons, an event of 10,000 ticket size is being allowed,” he pointed out.
