After uproar, Goa govt nixes MLAs’ junket to Brazil

“The decision was taken bowing to public sentiments”, Goa Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar said hours after the legislators said they would foot the bill for the trip themselves.

Five members of the group have, however, been allowed to visit Brazil but the government will not sponsor the trip.

“We were scheduled to visit Brazil because Goa will be hosting National Games and has also bid for the Under-17 football World Cup,” Tawadkar, who has opted out of the trip, said.

Tawadkar said the hype over the delegation’s visit over the last two days had forced the ministry to cancel it.

The opposition Congress, which had earlier in the day refused to give credence to the MLAs announcement that they would pay for the visit themselves, insisted that the state make the file noting which said the trip stood cancelled, public. “Till that time we will not be satisfied as the Manohar Parrikar government has a habit of taking U-turns,” Goa  Congress spokesperson Durgadas Kamat said.