Goemkarponn desk
Panaji: Stating the Sunburn EDM festival promotes drug culture in the state, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary Vijay Bhike on Thursday opposed the event and demanded that the government stop organising it.
Bhike said that the government is organising such music festivals in the name of tourism and revenue generation, and that this does not benefit in any way.
“People are forced to approach the courts as the government is not bothered about their concerns. In the Legislative Assembly, the Opposition had opposed the festival. This festival promotes drugs, and this is adversely affecting the state’s culture, heritage and identity,” he said.
He questioned why the government forms committees only when the government intervenes.
“Police have said that they will give Sunburn topmost security and install sound pollution recording machines and scanners for detecting drugs. From where are these funds going to come to purchase and install such high-cost equipment? The organisers should install these machines, not the government at the cost of the taxpayers. In the name of this festival, VVIP treatment is being meted out by the government to the organisers,” he said.
He also called for a high-level probe into the permissions given for the festival and to find out if drugs are being sold at the festival.
“We believe the decision to give permission for the festival was already given long ago. Money has exchanged hands. This is a big drama of not giving permissions. The government is not taking the local MLAs into confidence. The organisers are openly selling tickets even before getting permissions,” he said.
Bhike demanded that the government should make Goa drug-free and bring in Our traditional Goan And other states festivals.
“There is no security for tourists. Goans are dying on the road. Traffic arrangements are being diverted for such festivals. Robberies and dacoities are increasing by the day. There is no safety for Goans. Is revenue important? When will the government focus on the fields? The home department is doing nothing,” he said.
