PANAJI
The Goa Tourism Development Corporation’s Mandrem Paryatan Mahotsav, which was launched in full swing on Friday, drew the ire of Congress party that called the event as a front for furthering BJP’s prospects in the forthcoming by-polls.
The Congress took umbrage to the fact that the Mahotsav posters had the pictures of Dayanand Sopte, who is the chairman of GTDC.
While the GTDC maintained it is holding the Mahotsav in Mandrem to “promote hinterland tourism”, the Congress demanded to know how many tourists it has attracted with this festival.
“The government will have to explain how many tourists have been drawn for this three day festival, and what exactly have been the benefits as far as tourism is concerned,” said Congress spokesperson Sunil Kawthankar, who termed the festival a “publicity stunt.”
Kawthankar also said that if the GTDC could not explain this, the Opposition would file a complaint with the vigilance department as the festival was a waste of the public money simply to promote Sopte.
In a sarcastic attack, Kawthankar also said that with the launch of the festival, it appeared as though Mandrem was the hottest tourist spot in Goa. He said there had been no attempts by the GTDC to improve the tourism at any of the beaches or the Old Goa heritage sites.
Kawthankar was flanked by Mandrem by-poll ticket hopefuls Babi Bagkar and Sachin Parab, though he said that the Congress had still not decided on a candidate.
