Daijiworld Media Network - Goa (MB)

Panaji, Nov 4: Goa on Sunday reacted strongly to west Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya's statement questioning Goa as a permanent venue for international film festival of India (IFFI).

"Why should Bhattacharya comment that way? We have successfully organized IFFI for last three years," Goa chief minister Digamber Kamat reacted.

Goa chief minister invited his west Bengal counterpart to visit the state during the festival and see how it is being organized.

"There is absolutely no question about Goa being a permanent venue… it will continue to remain so," Kamat said.

Bhattacharya in his statement had said that Kolkata should be made the permanent venue for IFFI rather than Goa because of its cultural environment and infrastructure.

"We have told this several times but in vain. Hope the Centre will understand our views," Bhattacharjee told reporters in Kolkatta after announcing the inauguration date of November 10 of the 13th Kolkata Film Festival.

"Goa has invested Rs 118 crore in infrastructure and organizing the event till now. I don't think any other state would have spent so much," is how Vishnu Wagh, a senior member on governining council of Entertainment society of Goa, which is hosting the festival, reacted.

He said that sans good market, the film culture in goa did not flourished. ``After IFFI, the market is developing so also is film market," Wagh, renowned Konkani and Marathi writer, stated.

Wagh stated that West Bengal may have produced great films but that does not mean that its chief minister should ridicule Goa. Echoing chief minister's reaction, he invited west Bengal CM to visit Goa during IFFI and see how well it is being organized.