'Foreigners on tourist visa illegally engaging in business'

Panaji, Aug 7 (PTI) Opposition in coastal state of Goa on
Friday charged that a large number of foreigners, who arrived
on tourist visa, were illegally engaged in business activities
in the state's coastal belt.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Laxmikant
Parsekar, who represents coastal Mandrem constituency, alleged
that there were hundreds of foreigners in Pernem taluk itself
engaged in employment and business activities while the Home
Ministry's record placed on the table of the House showed that
only three foreigners were doing business in the taluk.

"Many foreigners arrive in Goa on tourist visa and engage
in business activities. The Home Ministry has utterly failed
to curb such instances," Parsekar said, moving a calling
attention motion in the State Legislative Assembly.

He claimed many foreigners were into restaurant business.
"Goa government is not serious about the issue which should be
top priority for the state considering the security aspect.

The state government needs to check what kind of
businesses are done by these foreigners, he stated.

Home Minister Ravi Naik, replying to the charges,
admitted that the Ministry cannot actually act against such
foreigners as they could not be intercepted. "But still I will
look into the matter and if there are any such instances, I
will take action."

Earlier, moving the calling attention motion, Parsekar
said the data tabled on the floor of the House indicated that
only 56 foreigners in North and 29 in South Goa were engaged
in the business activities across the state. PTI RPS
SDE