Sandesh Prabhudesai
27 April 2000
Are foreign nationals involved in benami trade and business in the coastal belt of Goa ?
"Yes, it is a disturbing trend noticed all along the Goan coast", says Manohar Parrikar, leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party – a coalition partner in the Francisco Sardinha government.
More than few hundreds of foreign nationals have been overstaying in Goa even after their visas have expired, states Parrikar while also alleging that the police department has been ignoring the fact despite being fully aware of it.
Over 2.50 lakh foreigners visit the tourist state every year including the charter tourists and the ones also staying in five star hotels. But the main breed of foreign tourists among these prefer to stay in the small rooms of local coastal settlers here, for not less than two to six months at a stretch.
It is a fact that several foreign nationals continue staying in the tourist state during the season by managing with the concerned authorities even after their visa expires. In fact some of them have been running several restaurants here by using locals as fronts.
Besides this, there are also cases brought to the light in the past where a few foreigners have settled down in Goa by purchasing old houses as they legally are not permitted to purchase any new property or land in India.
"There is absolutely no harm if foreigners stay in Goa provided they follow the law of the land", says Dr Wilfred de Souza, the former chief minister and MLA from the coastal village of Saligao, adjacent to Calangute.
Though indications in this regard were given in the past, Parrikar says several of his party workers are now coming forward with complaints that these foreign nationals are involved in gambling, drug trafficking and even paedophilic sexual activities.
He especially points out at such foreign nationals from UK, Germany, Pakistan and even Iranians. Equally serious problem is of the Kashmiris settled all along the coastal belt of Baga, Calangute, Anjuna in North Goa or places like Colva in the South.
While Parrikar has demanded screening of all the foreign nationals overstaying in the coastal state, Dr de Souza however condemns Parrikar for his inaction all this time in spite of being the most influential person in the government.
Gurucharan Singh, the state DGP, however prefers not to comment on it, stating that any person is free to make any allegations. Parrikar, while pointing out at this issue, has accused the police of total inefficiency. He has demanded tuning up of the department.
It is a fact that the police department or even the special anti-narcotic cell constituted to monitor the drug peddling scene acts more as a spectator rather than enforcing agency while drug peddling, rave parties or running benami business has become rampant along the Goan coast.
While the state receives around 80 per cent of tourism revenue from these foreign nationals visiting the tourist state, Parrikar even goes to the extent of stating that his party does not mind changing the whole pattern on Goan tourism, which is primarily the beach tourism.
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