Goa governor blames tourists for cultural intrusion

Mridula Sinha, governor of tourism-friendly Goa, Monday blamed tourists for the cultural intrusion in the state, adding that the state was plagued with "social diseases".

In her Republic Day address Sinha said: "The tourists who come here bring with them some kind of culture. We welcome all good things which they bring. But some things which they bring distract our youth."

"For Goa, tourism is an important industry. People who come to Goa, think that it is a place only for enjoyment," Sinha also said.

"I can say there are some social diseases which ... need control. We should know what to accept and what not to accept from them (tourists)," she said.

Sinha also said that suicides and crimes against women were on the rise in the state, which was otherwise faring well on other governance indices.