Pub culture fine, but not in excess: BJP

Goa BJP women's wing leader and former Panaji mayor Vaidehi Naik Tuesday said that pub culture is alright, but not in excess.

Speaking to reporters at the party's state headquarters Tuesday, Naik, who was in company of Bharatiya Janata Party's women's wing president Kunda Chodankar at a press conference said: "Pub culture is alright, but not in excess".

Naik is the ex-mayor of Panaji, which has the most popular nightclubs in the state, outside of the tourism-oriented coastal-belt.

The comment tops a long-drawn controversy, which was sparked after Goa's Public Works Department minister Sudin Dhavalikar demanded a ban on mini-skirts and bikinis, because it was against "Indian culture".

Dhavalikar's comments were backed by Union Tourism Minister of State (Independent Charge) Shripad Naik, who last week expressed his opposition to "pub culture", saying it had to be controlled and not promoted.

However, Shripad Naik, Vaidehi and Kunda Chodankar, dodged questions about the four offshore casinos and a dozen odd onshore casinos in Goa, which have been backed both by the ruling BJP and the Congress party, during its seven-year tenure in power here.

"As far as casinos are concerned, you must ask the chief minister," Chodankar said Tuesday.

The coastal state of Goa is one of the most popular tourism destinations in the country and is also known for its night life, bars, clubs and contemporary party culture.