Time curbs on music threatens social, religious ethos of Goa: GFP

Margao: Goa Forward Party president Vijai Sardesai on Tuesday said the high court order to shut down all music in the state after 10pm has threatened the “cultural, social and religious ethos of Goa and Goans”.
“Shutting down all forms of music after 10pm is killing Goem, Goemkar, Goemkarponn,” Sardesai told reporters. “Only a small fraction of shacks, restaurants and hotels in the state create a nuisance by playing loud music. Goans should not blame the courts or the petitioners for the high court order. It is the government and the few establishments who have been violating the law that are to be blamed.”
The Fatorda MLA said that the government should instead come out with a law to regulate music at night. “The government has failed to put up a reasonable argument before the high court. There needs to be a distinction between sound or music played at commercial sites, private events like weddings, cultural events like Shigmo, Carnival etc, and religious events like zatra and midnight Masses. The government should have prayed for relief in the high court that private events like weddings and annual, cultural and religious events be exempted from the ban on playing music beyond 10pm,” Sardesai said.
He said that the order banning playing music after 10pm would adversely impact the economy of the state. “There are many solutions to allow music being played beyond 10pm while ensuring that the fundamental rights of citizens living in the surrounding areas are not violated. When it comes to any form of environmental balance, there has to be a distinction between need and greed. The government cannot deny the needs of many because of the greed of a few,” Sardesai said.