VASCO: Goencho Avaaz Party on Tuesday demanded resignation of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for failing to initiate action against off-shore casino operators for flouting Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and also allowing hordes of people despite promulgating Section 144 CrPC in the State.
Goenchao Avaaz Convenor Captain Viriato Fernandes said that the government deprived people of their Shigmo and other religious celebrations, while on the other hand hordes of eager party goers were seen crowding casinos without maintaining social distancing and mostly without wearing mandatory face masks.
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Captain Fernandes pointed out that comprehensive SOPs for casinos were issued on November 2, 2020 and demanded to know whether SOPs compliance is being monitored by the authorities. If the SOPs are being followed, then the North Goa Collector needs to explain how 31 staff working in off-shore casino tested COVID-19 positive three days ago.
Captain Fernandes claimed that the powerful air flow from the casino air conditioning blowers and its recirculation makes it the perfect environment for the casinos to be spreaders of the dreaded virus.
Captain Fernandes flayed the government for setting up flying squads to check its own people’s Holi celebrations.
“Are these stringent norms only for Goans? Why is the BJP government refusing to maintain the same standards for the casinos, beach and rave parties and tourists’ revellers as it demands of its own people?” he asked.
Goencho Avaaz Vice President Roshan Mathias pointed out that one of the crucial SOPs is that casinos are only permitted to contain 50 per cent of their capacity at any given time. Whether this is being maintained is the question given the huge rush at nights on weekends and festival holidays. Hence, it is important that the Collector physically verify that SOPs are being followed by checking the CCTV footage of the gaming zone, restaurants and ticketing areas.
“Along with the CCTV footage, the official hourly guest count also needs to be submitted to the administration,” he said.
This, Mathias said, would demonstrate more effectively the concern of the government for its people rather than just imprisoning them under Section 144 CrPC, while permitting free and unrestricted movement and assembly for tourists and other random outsiders.
Goencho Avaaz President Swapnesh Sherlekar said that it was Goa’s great misfortune to have a government that mocked its own people by organising “Hunar Haat” festival at Campal-Panjim to understand the cultural diversity of different States of the country by suppressed the culture of its own people.
“The guiding principle of BJP government seems to be Goans last. Outsiders first. Right from handing over Goa to favoured industrialists, to refusing to put in place any SOPs for incoming tourists until probably the State is pushed to the brink. This government is willing to sacrifice the health and lives of Goans, just to protect outside business interests,” Sherlekar said.
