Rightists accuse Geldof of hurting 'sentiments'
PTI, PANAJI | 09 November 2012 23:44 IST
Irish rockstar Bob Geldof's remark that he got his "best drugs" from Goa has come under attack from a right wing Hindu organisation which has accused him of hurting national sentiments.
While tourism industry players in Goa have said that Geldofâs statement was not in the context of current situation, the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) has filed a complaint with the Irish embassy against the rocker.
Geldof, who was recently in Goa to participate in an event, had claimed that he was happy to be in the state which gave him the "best drugs".
He was referring to the era when he was 14-years-old and used to get drugs from Goa. "
Someone told me that these drugs where from Goa," Geldof had told reporters. Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) President Fransisco de Braganza said that there was no need to take Geldofâs statement as a judgement on the current situation.
"It is secondary evidence. He never came to Goa. Somebody told him that those drugs came from Goa. The time line is late 60s," Braganza said, adding we are all aware that there was hippie culture in Goa at that time.
"It was a different world. It is not a statement which relates to the present period," he added.
While the HJS has strongly opposed Geldofâs statement. In a letter to the Ireland Embassy in India at New Delhi and the Ireland Consulates in India and Indian Embassy in Ireland, the HJS demanded immediate action against Gedolf for hurting Indian sentiments.
"A renowned musician, social activist, Noble Peace Prize nominee and a Knight, during his first visit to Goa made controversial statements like I knew Goa for its image of beautiful women, drugs and serene beaches, Goa gave me the best drugs and...Goa and Drugs were completely one thing."
His statements about Goa and India have hurt the national sentiments as this is defaming India at an international level and a national insult," the letter reads.
"We respect Irish culture and its co-relation with India. We have common fighting spirit against those who wants to rule us and try to destroy our culture. We are informing this to you as your citizen and a public figure is defaming the image of a nation and no true Indian will take it lightly," it further said.
You must inform your Nationals visiting India in future to respect our glory and sentiments as we are respecting yours, it added. HJS has also demanded an unconditional apology from Geldof.
What Geldof has said may be true. There is no need to get excited and pretend as if there have not been drugs in Goa.
Everybody knows that tourists could get them easily in our state.
Instead of making big show and pretending to be innocent, we should try to catch the people involved in drug trafficking.
He has expressed himself, so we know what some of such people know about our state. There are so many throughout the world talking about this. How will be close their mouths?
Come on HJS, have a sense of humor. If you are serious about it than go behind the politicians and their families who are in drug trade.