Rave party rocks Assembly, CM orders inquiry

Bangalore, February 7: Yielding to the mounting pressure from opposition MLAs Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda has ordered a probe into the Government sponsored rave party in St Mary's Island near Malpe coast in Udupi district.

The Spring Zouk, the three-day rave party issue, rocked the legislative assembly on Tuesday with Opposition members, including three MLAs from coastal districts demanding stringent action against the officials.

The event was jointly organized by Udupi district administration in association with 3W Concepts aiming it as tourism promotion tool from February 3 to 5. However, the event turned out to be an ugly affair as video footages showed a foreign couple in compromising position during the party.

Leader of opposition Siddaramaiah raised the issue in the Assembly and sought action against the officers. Mangalore MLA U T Khader, Karkala MLA Gopal Bhandary and Mulky-Moodbidri MLA Abhay and Chandra Jain held the BJP led state government responsible for promoting the use of drugs, booze and 'public sex' under pretext of promoting tourism.

They alleged that sale of liquor in the Island, nude and half nude women were seen, smoking of banned substances like ganja in a party were supplied in the party.

The CM said he ordered an inquiry headed by regional commissioner. He also said that his government was against anything which would be contemptuous against Indian culture. “This applies not only to coastal belt, but for entire Karnataka state," Gowda informed the House.

He said more than 900 foreigners and people from Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Goa and other parts of the country had participated in the festival. Over 300 tents had been installed at the Island for the tourists. M T Reju, deputy commissioner of the district maintained that such as festival in the Island was being held for the first time.

The CM reiterated that the festival was aimed at tourism development where Local folk forms like Dollu Kunita, Kangeelu, Yakshagana, Suggi Kunitha by the Halakki tribes were also staged before the tourists.