Panaji, Jan 29 (IANS) The nine-year-old Russian girl's rape in Goa earlier this week has created a sharp rift in the ruling coalition with the Congress Friday saying Tourism Minister Mickky Pacheco of the Nationalist Congress Party should take responsibility for safety of tourists instead of blaming his cabinet colleagues.

'The tourism minister should take responsibility. He cannot blame his cabinet colleagues on this issue,' Congress' Goa in charge B.K. Hariprasad told reporters, outside the state guest house here.

Pacheco had earlier lashed out at Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and Home Minister Ravi Naik (both Congress), blaming them for laxity.

Hariprasad said that there was a great sense of concern about the attacks on tourists, especially women in Goa.

'Of course we are concerned about the attacks on ladies, women... We must work to strengthen the system. There is a systematic attempt to malign the image of Goa. These things are highlighted at the national and the international level,' Hariprasad said, but refused to elaborate.

The Congress official is in Goa to sort out differences amongst the Congress legislative party (CLP) members.

Pacheco had demanded that Naik resign in wake of the minor's rape. He also alleged that the chief minister's office too had been sleeping over a crucial file on the issue of tourist safety moved by his department.

The central government had also taken stern note of the increasing number of crimes against tourists in Goa.

After the nine-year-old Russian girl's rape was reported Jan 26, the union tourism ministry had directed the chief minister to submit a report on the efforts taken by the Goa government to ensure safety of tourists in the state.