Goa CM denies remark on women's complexion, says he was misquoted

Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Wednesday denied having made the alleged remarks on the complexion of nurses protesting in the state and said he was misquoted.

"I have not made any such comments. What I said is being quoted wrongly," Parsekar told PTI.

One of the nurses attached to 108 ambulance service had on Tuesday alleged that Parsekar advised them that they should not stage hunger strike in the sun.

"When we met the Chief Minister over our demands at Ponda, he said the girls should not sit on hunger strike in hot sun as their complexion will become dark and they will not find a good bridegroom," nurse Anusha Sawant had said.

However, Parsekar said he knew the protesting nurse and hence remarked that she appeared different after sitting in the sun.

"I never spoke about the marriage proposals or any such thing. It was just a passing remark because I had seen that girl earlier and found a difference when I saw her again," the chief minister said.

He said that few of the protesters had recorded the conversation on their mobile phones. "If anyone feels that I have made any such comments, they can check the recordings," Parsekar said.

In Goa, the nurses and others workers attached to 108 ambulance service, a government-approved facility run by a private firm, are on hunger strike for the last few days. They have alleged that the firm makes available only 13 ambulances, though it is being paid for 33.