Thanks to Bhatkal, all tourists must furnish info in Goa hotels
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 10 October 2013 16:54 IST
Goa government has decided to take sternest action possible against hotels and guest houses if they do not furnish details of all the customers, from December, when season picks up here.
The issue raised by Taleigao MLA Jennifer Monseratte in terms of foreign visitors to Goa took a twist when Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte linked it to terrorist Yasin Bhatkal, leading member of Indian Mujahedeen.
After Bhatkal was nabbed on Indo-Nepal border recently, the National Investigation Agency probe had revealed that he was residing at a rented house in Anjuna for a long time till February 2012.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in fact admitted that the coastal state was being used as a "resting place" by terrorists.
While stating that the state government has no details regarding Bhatkal since NIA has not shared any information with the state authorities, Parrikar said the Indian terrorist had not visited the state after 2011.
Earlier, Parrikar said the submission of C Form with all the details of the visitor was compulsory only for foreigners and Bhatkal was an Indian national.
But when opposition leader Pratapsing Rane pointed out that furnishing all the details with I-card was compulsory for every visitor in several countries, Parrikar agreed to tighten the system for all the visitors.
“We will frame proper guidelines and make it compulsory for all the visitors from 1 December”, the chief minister assured the House.
Vijay Sardesai, at this juncture, alleged that the system for foreigners was also not followed strictly, citing a case of David Hadley, connected with Mumbai terror attack of 26/11, going scot free from Goa.
Parrikar tried to defend his officials, claiming that it was sometimes difficult to identify foreigners but could not provide satisfactory reply over how a ‘white’ foreign-looking Hadley could escape the police net.
While agreeing that very little could be done in existing circumstances if false information is given by the visitor, the CM once again assured to frame proper guidelines for the hotels as well as owners of rented houses to furnish authentic information about visitors.
Every month House Owner must go to the Police Station and give attendance along with 25% amount received from the Rent. Police Station must issue House Owner the Amount Received Receipt. This amount must go the Home Ministry Fund. This Law will make House Owners to think Thrice before keeping anybody on the Rent.