Goa minister draws flak for his remark on Lambanis

Industries Minister R V Deshpande on Friday criticised the remark by Goa Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar to evict Lambanis, a nomadic tribe from Karnataka, from the beaches of Goa, terming it “anti-democratic”.

In a press statement, Deshpande said the remark made by the minister is an attack on the very foundation of the federal system in the country.

Ajgaonkar had reportedly said that Lambanis should be banned from Goa because they damage the reputation of the state and do not fit into the Goan culture. Deshpande said the remark reflected the “anti-democratic attitude” of the BJP government in Goa.

Karnataka Tourism Minister Priyank Kharge hit out at his Goa counterpart asking “If BJP really claim to be ‘Sab ka saat, sab ka vikaas’, then why the Lamanis are out of that,” in his twitter handle @priyankK-harge. Kharge charged Ajgaonkar of unfairly stereotyping an entire community.