PANAJI
Deputy Speaker and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo has apologised to the Lamani community on behalf of Tourism Minister Manohar ‘Babu’ Azgaonkar stating that he meant hawkers and not Lamanis.
Addressing a press conference at BJP headquarters in Panaji, Lobo said, “There is nothing as such as Lamanis. We have to correct this word. Lamani is a scheduled tribe. We can call them (people roaming on beaches involved in selling different articles) hawkers. They have to be stopped and not controlled.
“If any tribe is hurt, I would say sorry, because we respect the Lamanis. They are a tribe living in Goa for many years. They are the people who were involved in construction of Goan houses. I have already spoken to him (Azgaonkar) over the phone. There was a mistake on his part. What he wanted to say is hawkers and not Lamanis. I would correct it. Their leaders had come to me and I have told them that on behalf of the minister I would apologise. He did not mean to say Lamanis, but hawkers”, said Lobo defending Azgaonkar. Questioned over Water Resources Minister Vinod Paliencar’s comments on rave and loud music parties in Goa, Lobo said, “Raves parties are not happening in Goa right now and music is a part of Goan culture. Nobody is getting harmed if it is played within limits. Music cannot be banned. Control should always be there. May be in his constituency, there are one or two places which play loud music. They should be brought under control. Nonetheless, I would even go a step further and support what Vijai has demanded, playing of music in certain zones till 12 am. Special zones have to be created where people are not affected.”
Commenting on the raids on prostitution dens in Calangute, he said, “Prostitution is something you cannot say I have stopped. You can totally control it. But new people come into the trade and they get drag new girls into it. Police have to be alert and also the people who give their houses on rent as it
mostly happens in rented flats and houses.
