MARGAO
Taking objection to the dress code mooted by the government for the ensuing Carnival festival, Congress Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco on Monday asked Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar to come clean on what he meant by dress code and whether the government has anything to do with the demand by fringe elements.
Addressing the media, Reginaldo said the government decision is totally in bad taste and an attempt to encroach on the tradition and culture of the local populace. “I would like to ask the Tourism minister whether the decision on the dress code comes from fringe elements or the BJP in a bid to stop the traditional carnival. There is no place for nudism during the carnival parade, but the Tourism minister’s stand mooting dress code for Carnival has triggered doubts and confusion in the minds of the people and the stakeholders as well," he said.
While making an appeal to the government not to involve politics in tradition and culture, the Curtorim MLA said that Goa has suffered extensively because of the bad tourism season, adding that the government should not hit the nail in the coffin of the tourism industry by making statements such as on dress code. “The shacks and other tourism business this year has suffered for want of tourist. Foreigners have failed to come in droves this year as anticipated. The time has come to take care of the industry and not to further drive away tourists by making irresponsible statements," he said.
When the media contended that the minister must have commented on the dress code to check vulgarity, Reginaldo said, “Let the parents and the guardians take care of their ward. They are the best judges as far as the dress code is concerned. The government should stay away from this aspect."
