Need quality tourists, certain people who come to Goa are 'scum of earth': Minister Vijai Sardesai

Goa Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai on Friday sparked a controversy by saying north Indians aren't bothered and they want to create Haryana in Goa.

The minister was speaking at the Goa Biz Fest organised at a resort near Panaji.

"Domestic tourists visiting Goa are the 'scum of the earth' and 'north Indian tourists want to create a Haryana in Goa'. 

"Your Chief Minister is pushing to increase tourists coming into Goa. Today, we receive tourists who are almost six times the state's population. Those tourists are not the top-end tourists. They are also the scum of the earth," reports said quoting Sardesai.

Stating that they are very high in per capita income, social and political consciousness, health parameters, and many other parameters, the minister said, "We are much superior than people who are coming in. Those people -- how will you control?".

Making a scathing comment about tourists from north India, Sardesai said, "We are dependent on north Indians and this is what they do. They are not bothered about Goa. They will like to recreate a Haryana in Goa."

However, the minister defended himself saying he spoke only for Goa and did not generalise.

"Quoted out of context by media whilst reporting my speech @ yesterday’s GoaBizFest. #Goemkars believe that a certain section of #tourists who have no civic sense & create a nuisance, are not welcome to the state. I haven’t generalised or have been xenophobic Only spoken for #Goa!," Sardesai said in a tweet.

Quoted out of context by media whilst reporting my speech @ yesterday’s GoaBizFest. #Goemkars believe that a certain section of #tourists who have no civic sense & create nuisance , are not welcome to the state. I haven’t generalised or have been xenophobic Only spoken for #Goa! pic.twitter.com/MQ6AZ4dYRQ

— Vijai Sardesai (@VijaiSardesai) February 10, 2018