We are considering junket tour to be an investment: Manohar Parrikar

Govt has decided to send six MLAs to attend the FIFA World Cup

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday said that the decision to send MLAs to attend the FIFA World Cup in Brazil is being considered to be an investment for Goa and to get an understanding of how such mega sports events are handled and organised.

"We have been spending crores of rupees in developing football as a game. We are in process of constructing two stadiums and the government has decided to send six MLAs to understand how such mega events are arranged, as well as the handling of big crowds and organizing such events," said Parrikar.

"I have taken a decision in the interest of the state. We are considering this as an investment. In fact one of the visiting leaders is a sports minister and all those who are going are football enthusiasts," he added.

The decision to send MLAs to attend the FIFA World Cup in Brazil has drawn criticism from politicians.

The ministers who are reportedly going to attend the FIFA World Cup in Brazil are Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida, Velim MLA Benjamin Silva, Aldona MLA Glen Ticlo, Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar, Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado, and Power Minister Milind Naik.