New tourism bill will create hurdles: Cong

Panaji: Congress on Saturday criticised state govt for trying to introduce the Goa Tourism Promotion, Management and Regulation Bill without conducting proper consultations with the sectoral representatives.

The party has demanded that the draft bill not be introduced in the coming monsoon session of the Goa assembly.

“We completely oppose this bill. We want govt to tackle touts and illegal massage parlours and other illegalities, but look at the fines that the tourism department has imposed on people who commit such nuisance,” a Congress functionary said. “It is just Rs 10,000. But for legitimate businesses which make a small mistake, the fine is Rs 10 lakh.”

The party said that the new bill creates new hurdles for the tourism sector which would spell a disaster for the industry.

Meanwhile, the party’s vice-president Sunil Kawthankar accused BJP of politicising religion.

“Why is BJP, which is a political party, trying to act as the guardians and representatives of the Hindu religion and claiming that Rahul Gandhi insulted Hinduism?” said Kawthankar. “They are using religion for political gains. BJP talks about Hinduism and religion but this same party is permitting bars and liquor shops near temples and schools. This shows how much they care about God and religion.”

He said that BJP is frustrated after noting its downward trajectory. “Hindu and BJP are not the same. I want to ask BJP’s youth groups, and proxies like Bajrang Dal, where were they when the homes of Hindus were demolished and when Hindu taxi operators were crying at Mopa?” said Kawthankar.


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