LGBT row: NCP seeks resignation of 'ignorant' Goa minister

Panaji, Jan 14: Even as Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar is trying to put a lid on a controversy triggered after the remarks made by his deputy on 'normalising' LGBT community, opposition NCP today demanded resignation of the "ignorant" Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Ramesh Tawadkar.

"Chief Minister should sack the ignorant minister. The future of youths in the state is at stake in the hands of the current youth affairs and sports minister," state unit NCP spokesman Trojano D'Mello told reporters here.

Parsekar, while seeking to defuse the controversy, had yesterday said the minister must be "ignorant" about the issue and that the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community's sexual preferences were "natural".

Referring to Parsekar's statement, D'Mello said, "the CM has defended his own minister by claiming that he (minister) must be ignorant about LGBT."

Tawadkar kicked up a storm on Monday by stating that the BJP government has decided to set up a centre to treat the LGBT community to make them "normal".

"We will make them (LGBT youth) normal. We will have a centre for them. Like Alcoholic Anonymous centres, we will have centres. We will train them and give them medicines too," Tawadkar had said after launching the Youth Policy.

As his comments drew a sharp rebuke from various quarters, the minister yesterday retracted his statement, saying he was "misunderstood" and "misquoted".

Parsekar later clarified that no plans are afoot to set up any such centre. The Youth Policy speaks about drug addicted and the sexually abused youths as a focused group.

PTI