Many people often go to Goa's Central Jail because good food is served there, quipped Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in the Assembly on Wednesday.
He said Goans are peace-loving people and it is a matter of concern that among inmates lodged at the central jail for heinous crimes, a large number are from the state.
Sawant was responding to cut motions moved by the opposition on demands for grants for the home department, which is headed by him.
"There is no complaint about quality of food served at the Central Jail. In fact, many people often go there because you get good food, he remarked to rubbish the opposition claims that substandard food is served at the jail.
The chief minister said the Central Jail at Aguada near here has 446 male and 20 female inmates.
Of the total male prisoners, 154 are Goans, while nine women inmates are residents of the state, Sawant said.
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"Of these, 27 are convicted for murder. I am surprised how come so many people are in jail for murder. Goan mentality needs to be changed, he said.
"Goans are peaceful by nature, but how can they go to the extent of killing someone? There are fights between brothers or within family and sometimes they result in murders, Sawant said.