Panaji, Aug 1 (PTI) Leader of Opposition in the Goa Assembly Digambar Kamat said on Thursday that the state government should take back rights of certain programs of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) from the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

Speaking on Demands of Grants for the state Information Department in the Assembly, Kamat said Goa had rights over at least five sections of IFFI programming in 2004 when the festival shifted to the coastal state.

"These rights were initially with the Goa government but now they have been surrendered to the I&B ministry," Kamat said.

"At least we should have the right to show Goan films. Goan talent should be promoted. During my tenure (as chief minister) we had programming rights of five sections of IFFI. Today we don't have a single section with us," the Congress leader said.

He also demanded that at least one performance by nationally famous Goan artist should be showcased during the opening or closing ceremony of IFFI.

IFFI is held in Goa in November.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)