By Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Mar 24: Digamber Kamat led state government came under severe criticism from opposition benches who alleged kickbacks in allotting programs during the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2008.
 
BJP leader Manohar Parrikar, speaking on the floor of the house, this afternoon, said that the Entertainment society of Goa committee members were acting as contractors to bring in national artists for the program.
 
ESG is a state government body hosting IFFI since 2004.
 
The BJP legislators including Vijay Pai Khot alleged that the bills produced by these contractors were bloated and massive kickbacks were received by the members.
 
The Opposition benches alleged that tenders for the IFFI cultural shows, which included performances by renowned artistes like playback singer Kavita Krishnamurthy, were bagged by the committee members, which is against the rules.
 
“I have taken quotations from Kavita Krishnamurthy’s agent, who said he was willing to conduct two shows in Goa for Rs 19 lac. But the IFFI organizing committee had paid Rs 27 lac for two shows,” Khot said.
 
He also alleged, that another artiste Ravindra Sathe, who normally charged Rs 75,000 for a single show, was paid Rs 5 lac for a single performance during the IFFI. Khot demanded inquiry into all the affairs.
 
Leader of Opposition and senior BJP legislator Manohar Parrikar said that several members of the IFFI organizing committee themselves had put in their tenders, which is not an ethical procedure.
 
“They should be banned from participating in the tendering process,” he said. 
 
The chief minister Digamber Kamat replying to the allegations said that there is no corruption in the deals. “These artistes were booked during the peak time when charges are usually high,” he said.