Naik refutes Babush's allegations as false

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2008-10-17
PONDA- Reacting to the statements made by the Education Minister, Mr Atanasio Monserrate, in connection with the alleged rape of a minor girl by his son, on Wednesday, the Home Minister, Mr Ravi Naik on Thursday said that the police are doing their duties sincerely and added that he never interfered in the investigations.
“We cannot interfere in the police duties, nor any minister can. I strongly refute the allegations made by Mr Monserrate that the police are acting on my instructions,” the Home Minister said while speaking to reporters in Ponda municipal hall on Thursday morning. He further said that all the allegations made by Mr Monserrate “are false and maligning in nature.”
The Home Minister said that he never had anything personal against any minister or MLA. He however agreed that the German consulate had written to him and the Goa government to investigate the case in detail.
“I spoke to the Chief Secretary about it and hoped for better results,” the Home Minister said.
Asked if attacks on tourists would affect the tourist inflow, the Home Minister replied in the negative.
“These stray incidents, certainly would not bring bad name to Goa and would in no way affect the state’s tourism sector. A large number of tourists have already started pouring into the state,” he countered, adding “I feel that such incidents did occur in Goa earlier too and the records confirm it. But they were not reported and aired by media as it has been done now,” he opined.
He said that the print and electronic media are now active and that every incident occurred, is shown across the world. “I, therefore appeal to the tourists who are visiting Goa to follow the rules and act accordingly, but it was often observed otherwise,”
he lamented.