MARGAO
Asserting that his “scum of the earth” statement is not directed at all the domestic tourists, but only a small section of the 6.5 million tourists visiting the state, TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai on Saturday said his statement should not be generalized but at the same time maintained that he is not at all apologetic about what he has stated.
“What I spoke yesterday is a reflection of the sentiments of Goans as they are disgusted with a section of tourists who come and create nuisance. I am speaking for the people of Goa, who believe that a small section of the 6.5 million tourists are real nuisance makers and have no civic sense,” he said.
Saying there’s a general feeling that Goa needs to reorient itself, Sardesai pointed out that the State’s development is not about quantity, but quality. “We may be susegad and laid back people, but are not certainly laid back when certain people come here and resort to nuisance,” he said.
Saying that he cannot be apologetic and that his Goa Forward Party is ready to bell the cat, the TCP Minister said the people of Goa want to retain the identity when it comes to architecture, ethos, tolerance etc. “To develop Goa, we need quality and not quantity. People had saved the state from merger, but now they feel that attempts are underway to gobble them up from inside. We will have to create ways and means so that quality and high-end tourists come to Goa,” he said, adding that he is not at all apologetic for what he had stated, while reiterating that his statement was directed only at a small section of tourists and not all the 6.5 million tourists visiting the state.
