Goa rape case an isolated incident: Congress leader

PANAJI - A senior Congress leader B.K. Hariprasad Friday termed the rape of a nine-year old Russian girl as an “isolated thing highlighted beyond proportion”.

The All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge of Goa was speaking to reporters after attending a state Congress committee meeting.

Responding to a query on cabinet ministers openly attacking the chief minister and the state home minister following the Russian minor’s rape, Hariprasad said: “This is a state known for tourism. Definitely it comes under law and order situation. Some isolated thing is highlighted beyond proportions.”

Earlier in the day, Hariprasad who is in Goa to sort out differences among the Congress legislative party (CLP) members, had expressed concern about the attacks on women in the state and said that there was a design behind the incidents.

“Of course we are concerned about the attacks on ladies, women… We must work to strengthen the system. There is a systematic attempt to malign the image of Goa. These things are highlighted at the national and the international level,” Hariprasad said.

Prasad also criticized state Tourism Minister Mickky Pacheco for criticising his cabinet colleagues for their laxity in handling the minor’s rape case.

“The tourism minister should take responsibility. He cannot blame his cabinet colleagues on this issue,” Hariprasad said.

Pacheco had demanded that Home Minister Ravi Naik resign in wake of the minor’s rape.

The central government had also taken stern note of the increasing number of crimes against tourists in Goa.

After the nine-year-old Russian girl’s rape was registered Jan 26, union tourism ministry had directed the chief minister to submit a report on the efforts taken by the government to ensure safety of tourists.