Naik urges Antony to include Goa in Republic Day parade

Panaji, Nov 25 (UNI) Goa MP Shantaram Naik today urged Defence Minister A K Antony to intervene in selection of floats for the Republic Day parade of 2009, to ensure inclusion of the state's float.

Mr Naik, in a fax message to Mr Antony, said Goa had been excluded by the authorities in the current year and also for 2009, to give chance to other states, which did not get a chance earlier.

He wondered why Goa, an international tourist destination, has been kept out from the parade for the second consecutive year and asked the Minister to look into the matter.

Mr Naik said the policy to not include the state, which has bagged prizes of several grades at the Republic Day parade earlier, was not correct.

UNI SRN RN RJ AS1628