Parrikar defends govt's decision

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today dismissed criticism of his government's decision to host the IFFI.

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today dismissed criticism of his government's decision to host the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), saying "any society which is advanced and mature should spend some time and money on leisure activities."

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He was reacting to pop singer Remo Fernandes' reported criticism of the government for giving priority to films when poverty and unemployment had not been eradicated from the tiny coastal state.

"I agree with Remo that all these things are also important, but the only difference is that I have already done this," the Chief Minister said while interacting with the delegates at IFFI.

"Just because we have not achieved 100 per cent target in education or health, should we not concentrate on films?" he said, adding "you see only the infrastructure that we have built in Panaji, but at this very moment 200 schools are being renovated in the interiors of the state."

Assuring that Goa would have a film festival in another 370 days, Parrikar said, he would make all efforts to rectify mistakes that might have been made this time.

He also urged all those participating to give their inputs so that "we can make it even more better next time".