Headlines
Goa CM raps minister over gang-rape comments
Panaji, June 7
A day after Goa Tourism
Minister Dilip Parulekar took back his "insensitive" comments on
gang-rape of two women escorts, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on
Sunday said ministers should err on the side of caution while making
public comments.
Parsekar, while speaking to reporters at Mapusa,
a town 10 km from here, said Goa Police would need to seriously think
about controlling "escort" services in the state.
Asked whether
he has given instructions to his ministers about exercising caution
while making comments in public, Parsekar said: "Ministers should know
that they should speak with caution, not just with the media, but with
the public and colleagues."
Parulekar triggered a controversy
when he termed as a "stunt" the gang-rape of two women escorts by five
men earlier this week, and said "such minor incidents" were bound to
happen in a tourism state like Goa.
"I have said it earlier, I am
saying it again, wherever tourism activity flourishes such minor
incidents happen," Parulekar had said, adding: "...the boys are 'nadaan'
(naive) and they have small crimes registered against them and this
will not happen in the future."
The opposition gunned for Parulekar's head, for his "insensitive" remarks.
When
asked about the proliferation of escort services in the state, which
often serve as a front for prostitution, Chief Minister Parsekar, who is
also the state's home minister, said police should "seriously" think
about it.
"It should not happen. We need to definitely seriously think over it. We cannot shirk the responsibility," Parsekar said.