No beef politics in Goa: BJP

PANAJI: While the country debates the beef ban , the BJP state unit on Tuesday said no political party in the state is involved in ‘ beef politics ’.Speaking to reporters at the BJP headquarters at Panaji, deputy speaker Michael Lobo said that the beef ban issue would never come up in the state, as beef was a part of the culinary heritage of the minority community , which comprises 33% of the population. “Nobody talks about this (beef ban) type of politics in Goa,” he added.Questioned about RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat ’s demand for a law banning cow slaughter across the country, Lobo said that such a ban has been there for many years now and was brought in during the Congress rule. “Cow slaughter ban has always been there,” he added.Further, commenting on WRD minister Vinod Palyekar’s statement calling for a ban of rave/late night parties in the state, Lobo maintained that as of now rave parties were not happening in the state. However, pointing out that music was a part of the Goan culture, he said, “If music is played (at parties) within restricted levels then there is no problem,” and added that there should be certain special zones across the state for such music parties.“We have totally stopped the sale of drug in the Calangute constituency,” Lobo said and added that drug market can be stopped, but that depends on the MLA, police inspectors and others. “We (BJP) have zero per cent tolerance to drugs and prostitution,” Lobo said, and maintained that Goa has the scope to become one of the best tourist destinations on the world if promoted as a family destinations. Casinos he felt were okay as sometimes family category tourists he opined visited casinos to simple see what they are all about, and not necessarily to gamble.