Congress party workers burnt the effigy of Parulekar in protest against his statement even as Goa chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar asked the police department to initiate impartial inquiry into the gangrape incident that was reported on Monday night.
"I said what I said based on the report given to me by the police. I have said this in the past and I am saying this again that in places where tourism flourishes such small incidents occur," Parulekar said.
"Such stray incidents are bound to take place in a busy tourist destination like Goa," Parulekar had said.
"The boys are 'nadaan' (naive) and they have small crimes registered against them...This will not happen in future," he said.
Parulekar today said no Goans are involved in the incident.
"Neither the accused nor the victims are Goans. The boys were outsiders and the victims were from Delhi. We are still trying to ascertain facts and figures. It is unclear what their connection...Police is investigating and the accused are in 7-day custody. By tomorrow we will figure out what the facts of the case are," he said.
"I have asked the police to conduct impartial inquiry into the incident. Police are on their job and investigations are on right track," the Chief Minister told PTI.
Two Delhi-based girls who were holidaying in Goa were allegedly gangraped by five men who posed as anti-narcotic cell policemen.
Police are also on the look out for a woman accomplice of these five accused who was at the scene when the incident happened.
He said the party strongly condemns the attitude of the minister. "The law and order situation in the state has gone to the lowest level posing threat to common man on the street," he added.
"It looks like the Tourism Minister has lost his mental balance," said another Congress leader Durgadas Kamat.