PANAJI // An Indian politician has threatened to go on hunger strike if a Playboy nightclub is allowed to open in Goa, claiming it would promote prostitution.
Michael Lobo, a state legislator in the Bharatiya Janata Party, is opposing a club proposed on Candolim Beach - the first of dozens of Playboy outlets planned across the country.
"I will resort to hunger strike until death if the Playboy club is allowed in Goa," Mr Lobo said on Monday. "Playboy will project Goa as an international destination for prostitution."
Despite assurances of no nudity in the clubs, Mr Lobo said it was "obvious" nobody would pay for membership "just to sit and eat groundnuts".
He said: "They will try to get value for money.
"Government will not be able to control the happenings inside the club once it is granted permission."
PB Lifestyle, the Indian franchiser of the Playboy brand, announced plans in November to open 120 clubs, hotels and shops in India over the next 10 years.
Goa's tourism minister, Dilip Parulekar, said the application for the first club was under consideration, but he repeated warnings that they would "never allow vulgarity".
