Goa: BJP MLA sits on hunger strike, says shut down all dance bars in state

Panaji, Feb 23: Senior Goa BJP leader Michael Lobo today sat on a day-long hunger strike demanding shutting down of all dance bars in the Calangute-Baga beach belt.

Lobo along with several of his supporters began the token strike at Baga junction and accused the state government of "not acting against illegal dance bars in the area, because of which the local women were feeling unsafe."

"The women in this area are feeling unsafe. Dance bars are illegally operating in the area promoting prostitution," Lobo told PTI.

"The businessmen from outside Goa are involved in this business. They can run business in Goa, but it should be legal," the MLA from Calangute said.

Last week, a group of protesters led by Lobo had demolished four illegally running dance bars in the area. Police had later registered an FIR against the BJP MLA and others in this connection.

"Four dance bars were demolished last week. There are three more such bars operating in the area. We want that the state government should ban all prostitution activity in the belt," said Lobo, who is also chief of BJP's North Goa unit.

Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar today talked to Lobo over phone regarding the issue.

"The Chief Minister told me that action would be initiated against all such illegal activities. But I will continue my hunger strike," he said.

PTI