Former Union Minister and Congress leader Rajiv Shukla on Sunday, expressed his shock over the Union minister of state for tourism and culture, Shripad Naik's statement on putting a rein on pub culture which exists in parts of the country.
"I am shocked by the statement of Shripad Naik. If there will be nothing for attracting tourists to Goa then why would anybody come there. If the tourism minister has such thinking then how will tourism of our country expand?," Shukla said.
On Saturday, Union minister of state for tourism and culture, Shripad Naik had called for controlling the pub culture in the country, saying that it leads to unwanted things.
Naik was reacting to comments made by Goa's transport minister Ramkrishna Dhavalikar, who had called for banning of mini-skirts.
"I don't know exactly what he (Dhavalikar) said, but I would say that pub culture should be controlled. Whatever unwanted things are happening there (pubs) should not happen."
"If we don't divert from pub culture then it will increase and it is not in the interest of the country. We have to promote other branches of tourism," he added.
He, however, refused to comment on the casino issue, saying that it comes under the state government.
Naik was responding to media queries on the sidelines of a tourism related event at Dona Paula.
