After ‘dance bars’ it’s the ‘Sunburn’ music festival that is causing fissures among the State’s ruling BJP here with the Government taking an offensive stance and its party legislators supporting it.
India’s biggest electronic music festival Sunburn, being held in Goa every year since 2007, is constantly dogged with controversy and this year has been no different.
The festival promoters in a communication to the State Government last year had alleged they were cheated and there was large-scale corruption in Goa’s bureaucracy which hampered the organising of the festival. CM Manohar Parrikar obviously miffed with the statements of the letter vowed “not to sign any file of the festival” unless organisers prove their allegations or withdraw their charges.
“I have seen the email by the organisers. I am not going to sign on any file for the festival. Either they prove the allegations with proof or apologise,” Parrikar told mediapersons during a visit to Candolim, a village which has been hosting the event every year. He added that if their charges were indeed proven then he would take action against those involved. Further expressing displeasure, Parrikar said that the violation of the law especially that of smoking in public places despite undertakings from the organisers won’t do.
“In spite of a promise there would be no smoking, 800 cases for cigarette smoking were booked by the police over three days. If any other kind of smoking was there, I don’t know. I will not allow this,” Parrikar said. However, local legislator Michael lobo in whose constituency the event is usually organised said that the Government needs to promote such events in order that cash flows in to the local economy.