Goa CM courts controversy over remarks on women's complexion

Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar is in the eye of a storm over his alleged advise to agitating nurses that they should not stage hunger strike in the sun because it will make them 'dark' and 'ruin their marital prospects'.
One of the nurses attached to 108 ambulance service had yesterday alleged that Parsekar advised them that they should not stage hunger strike in the sun.
"When we met the Chief Minister over our demands at Ponda, he said the girls should not sit on hunger strike in hot sun as their complexion will become dark and they will not find a good bridegroom," nurse Anusha Sawant had claimed.

However, Parsekar today denied making any such remarks. He said he knew the protesting nurse and hence remarked that she appeared different after sitting in the sun.
"I never spoke about the marriage proposals or any such thing. It was just a passing remark because I had seen that girl earlier and found a difference when I saw her again," the Chief Minister told PTI.
"I have not made any such comments. What I said is being quoted wrongly," he said.
The Chief Minister said that few of the protesters had recorded the conversation on their mobile phones. "If anyone feels that I have made any such comments, they can check the recordings," Parsekar said.

In Goa, the nurses and others workers attached to 108 ambulance service, a government-approved facility run by a private firm, are on hunger strike for the last few days. They have alleged that the firm makes available only 13 ambulances, though it is being paid for 33.