Won't allow Thinkfest in Goa, says tourism minister

If the Goa tourism minister has his way, Thinkfest conference, which is annually held in the state, may not be allowed in future unless its promoter and Tehelka founder-editor Tarun Tejpal's fate in a sexual assault case is decided.

"We will not allow it if such activities are happening there. There are other complaints about the conference too," Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar told IANS Wednesday.

"Let him face trial in the case and clear his name," Parulekar said.

Held annually in Goa since 2011, Thinkfest has attracted controversy first over Tejpal's insensitive comments about Goa and later over sponsorship from dubious corporate entities funding the event.

In the 2013 edition of the festival held earlier this month, Tejpal was accused of sexually assaulting a junior colleague twice in the same resort which hosted the festival.