Surprised over order issued by NGT on casinos
TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday said he is not in a hurry to put behind bars politicians who have looted the State, even as he asserted that systematic attempts are being made in certain quarters to block revenue to the government from various heads, including casinos.
He also expressed surprise over the order issued by the National Green Tribunal on casinos when all the cases pertaining to the western region were to be heard by the Pune bench.
“In the last one year, the main leaders of the Congress had no guts to talk against the government, because they have looted the State. But questions are being asked as to why they are not behind the bars for corruption. I can put them inside, but they should not be released by the courts the next day. If I simply put them inside, they will get sympathy and many will even label me as Hitler,” he said, while addressing people at the Sarvajanik Ganesh mandal at Aquem on Monday evening.
“What has to happen will definitely happen. I am not in haste to act. Let it be done systematically,” he added.
Praying to Lord Ganesh to give wisdom to the people, Parrikar said the Congress leaders after giving licenses to casinos are now demanding their closure. “Either they did not receive money from the casinos or they want to block the revenue flowing in the treasury from these. There’s a need to find out who funded those who went to the Supreme Court and stopped the Rs 1,500-crore revenue from the mining industry. I have stated that I will remove the casinos within two years, but I am suspicious why they are demanding right now,” he added.
On the Green Tribunal order on casinos, the Chief Minister said he does not know whether to laugh or cry on the order. “On August 16, there was an order that all matters pertaining to Western India will be heard by the Tribunal at Pune. How come the National Tribunal issued its order on September 3,” he said.
