Visakhapatnam: Stray protests continue over the proposed Beach Love Festival here that would coincide this time with the Valentine’s Day 2017.
Though Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu clearly stated that the TD government would not organise any event that “spoil” the culture and traditions, women’s organisations say the TD government is promoting the event in the name of tourism promotion.
Activists of the Uttarandhra Samskriti Parirakshana Samiti on Sunday took out a small march against the Beach Love Festival and they threatened to stall the event that is to be held with the involvement of the Mumbai-based private entity — the Positive Global Consultancy Private Ltd. Leftist women activists argue that the event, while aimed at attracting domestic and foreign tourists to the region, would involve dances by bikini-clad models as also booze parties on the beach.
Secretary of POW, Andhra Pradesh Comm-ittee, Lakshmi alleged the TD leaders were trying to tarnish the image of AP just for the increase in inflow of tourists. However, officials of the AP tourism development corporation have said they are yet to make any announcement about the Beach Love Festival and that those who are holding protests in the streets have no idea as to what this is all about. The Beach Love Festival is having the TD government's nod, but so far there is no progress in the arrangements, they added.
