from daijiworld's special correspondent
 
Panaji, Jul 2:  Union information and broadcasting minister Priyaranjan Dasmunshi on Friday ruled out any possibility of shifting International Film Festival of India (IFFI) from Goa to Calcutta.

"We will provide all the support to Goa government in conducting the festival and IFFI is here to stay in Goa," the union minister told reporters at Margao.

He said that he never attempted or wished to shift IFFI to Calcutta. "I challenge you to prove it.. show me the newspaper where it has appeared," he shot back when asked whether he favours Calcutta as IFFI destination.

Dashmunshi, who was in goa to inaugurate football ground, said that center is ever wiling to provide all possible help conducting IFFI.

The union minister refused to comment on self sustainability of IFFI. Goa government has put up a claim to take over IFFI from center and make it self-sustained by 2008. But the union minister had something different to opine.

"I don't know about any such proposal. At least to my knowledge there is no such proposal of taking over IFFI by Goa government," he said.