Team Herald
PANJIM: Opposing casinos in River Zuari, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Dr Wilfred Mesquita indirectly alleged that ‘bad money’ is flowing into casinos by gamblers and asked the government not to encourage such revenue generation.
“Money is not the end of everything. It does not justify the means. Yes, we are getting money like that. We can get money from so many bad means that doesn’t mean it (money) becomes good. Government should not encourage money through illegal means,” he said on Friday.
His statement comes in the wake of protests by Chicalim residents and local MLAs over the proposal to shift offshore casino vessels from River Mandovi to River Zuari. The BJP Vice-President recalled his ‘unfortunate’ tenure in the Pratapsingh Rane cabinet when casinos were granted licences.
“Unfortunately, I was a part of the Rane cabinet. I didn’t realise the evil of it. Somehow an impression was given that casinos would be shifted in the outer waters so it was alright but it didn’t happen. Now casinos are everywhere,” he said adding, “It is very unfortunate that casinos have become a curse. I oppose (shifting of casinos to River Zuari) because the Chicalim Bay is eco-sensitive.”
He further advised the Central government to keep tabs on the State’s casinos to unearth black money rather than conducting random raids at places. “Will any honest citizen in this country splurge money like this in a casino? I don’t think so. No person likes to splurge money unless you get it from ill-means. If the Centre wants to detect black money, here is the place where they can get it. This is a place where black money is spent,” he said.
“Video record every person entering the casino, take their address and send them notices,” he said.
