Amid rising opposition to the next month's Defence Expo, Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar today said the government was determined to hold the event at Betul village under any circumstances.
Parsekar visited the village in south Goa this morning.
"Locals are not against the Defence Expo. There are certain elements who are creating misunderstanding and confusion. Come what may, Defence Expo will happen at Betul," Parsekar told reporters at the proposed site.
"Our son of the soil (Manohar Parrikar) has become the Defence Minister. He is getting something good for the state," the Chief Minister said.
Congress MLA Chandrakant Kavlekar, independent MLA Vijai Sardesai and the NGO Orixtt Projecho Avaz are among those opposed to the exhibition, to be held from March 28 to 31, on the ground that the land would be acquired permanently on the pretext of Expo.
However, Parsekar dismissed the opposition. "Don't take these people seriously, they are objecting to each and every thing in Goa," he said, adding that maximum benefit of the event would be passed on to the locals.
The state government has claimed that with more than 860 companies participating, the Defence Expo would be a boon for the tourism business during a lean season.
