Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Aldona MLA and Advocate Carlos Alvares Ferreira has criticised the BJP-led government over a controversial social media advertisement promoting a “Goa Meet and Connect” event, demanding an immediate investigation by the police and action by the Tourism Department.
Ferreira alleged that the promotional material raises serious concerns about the nature of the activities being advertised and could damage Goa’s reputation as a tourist destination. He questioned whether the government was adequately monitoring such promotions.
Speaking about the advertisement, Ferreira said a friend from Delhi had forwarded him a poster circulating on WhatsApp that directed users to an Instagram account promoting social gatherings in Goa.
According to Ferreira, the poster stated that male participants would be charged ₹500 per person, while female participants would be allowed free entry for the first 48 hours, after which charges would apply. It also advertised opportunities to meet like-minded Indians, engage in conversations, build connections and find potential dating matches.
Ferreira also referred to another video posted by the same social media account, claiming that the person promoting the event stated that married men would not be allowed entry before ending the video with the slogan “Jai Shree Ram”.
Questioning the purpose and credibility of the promotion, Ferreira asked whether such events were being encouraged as part of the state’s tourism activities. He also raised concerns about the possibility of people being charged money without receiving the promised services.
The MLA called on the police to investigate the matter and urged the Tourism Department to take appropriate action against the promotion if any violations were established.
“This is an open-and-shut prostitution case,” Ferreira alleged, demanding a crackdown by the authorities. However, the allegations have not been independently established.
Ferreira further accused the BJP government of failing to protect Goa’s image and claimed that outsiders were taking advantage of the state. He also urged voters to remove the BJP from power in the upcoming elections.
The controversy has raised questions about the regulation of social media event promotions and the need for authorities to examine potentially misleading advertisements operating in the name of tourism and social networking.
As of the time of reporting, no official response from the police or the Tourism Department regarding Ferreira’s allegations was provided in the information available.
