Issuing a clarification over his controversial bikini beach statement, Goa MLA Lavoo Mamledar today said India needed to retain its culture to become a superpower.
"We are Indian. Everybody says that India will become a super power if it retains its culture, and therefore, I feel everyone should try to do that," said Mamledar.
"Also, earmarking a part of a beach to make it a bikini beach and imposing entry fee will increase revenue and tourism. I would also like to say that tourism has not decreased but has rather increased by 12.4 percent in Goa so people should stop criticizing the chief minister unnecessarily," he added.
Mamledar, who is a former police officer, had earlier said that if tourism had to be promoted and is necessary, then there could be a bikini beach with entry fees in Goa.
A week back, Goa Public Works Department Minister Sudhin Dhavalikar had said that bikinis should be banned on the state's public beaches which drew criticism from various party leaders and women rights activists.
Condemning the statement, women's rights activist Annie Raja stated, "It is an absolutely anti-women statement, as it violates the dignity of women. How dare the minister talk like this? The chief minister should take action against it. It is high time for the Goa Government to intervene in the matter.
