Naidu refuses to back down on Vizag's beach festival, says it's not against Indian culture

After about three days of frenzied media reports and opposition attacks, Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday spoke out on the 'beach love festival' proposed to be held in Visakhapatnam.

The Times of India reported that Naidu felt the issue was being 'blown out of proportion' by the Opposition to 'damage' the image of the state.

“I will be the first person in the government to oppose any move that goes against the Indian culture and traditions. We will keep this in mind while organizing any cultural festival in the state,“ he was quoted as saying.

The TOI report added the chief minister said that the beach festival would be organized in a novel way to leave the state's imprint on the world tourism map.

Last week, announcement of the 'beach love festival’ turned into chaos after political parties and media outlets reported that the festival would have bikini-clad women, music, dance, and free-flowing alcohol, since it was being organized on Valentine's Day.

Opposition leader and YSRCP MLA Roja said "They are tainting our culture in the name of love festival. 9,000 couples will be there it seems. Bikini show will be there it seems (sic)."  

Soon, women’s rights groups were staging protests in the city, and TDP’s own ally, the BJP, also condemned the event.

After more than 24 hours of chaos, the government on Saturday clarified that it will not allow any programme "inimical to Telugu culture and traditions".

Terming the media reports as "rumours", the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation and the Municipal Corporation of Visakhapatnam clarified that the government had received a proposal by a private agency about organising a mega event during February 2017 in Visakhapatnam to attract foreign tourists.

Read - Andhra govt has one question for media, public: Where is the love?