PANJIM: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) came down heavily on the Bharatiya Janata Party government in Goa for ignoring the voices and requests of Goan business owners and for immediately acceding to the demands of corporate/casino lobbies by considering a grant Rs 277.08 crore waiver or Annual Recurring Fee (ARF) to the casino operators and restarting casinos in River Mandovi.
Adv Surel Tilve claimed that since March this year, small businessmen of Goa have been struggling to survive due to the lockdown and have been asking the government for some kind of compensation or help but their requests have fallen on deaf years.
“While the government has ignored these requests claiming financial crisis, it has promptly waived off a whopping Rs 277.08 crore that was due as ARF from casino owners even ignoring advice of two major government departments,” Adv Tilve said, pointing out that no Goan owns the casino vessels.
“Not only has the ARF been waived off for the casino owners but they have been also allowed to pay the amount on pro rata basis as against the present practice of paying the whole amount in advance before commencement of business,” he said.
“What is interesting to note is that the Home and Finance Departments strongly objected to the waiver with the Finance Department pointing out that it would result in an income of only Rs 72.92 crore as against the estimated amount of Rs 350 crore. On what basis has the Chief Minister given such relief to the casino owners while not giving anything to Goan business owners? Is he the Chief Minister of Goa and Goans or for non-Goans and outsiders,” Adv Tilve asked, stating that Goans involved in travel and tourism industry are now selling vegetables and fish in the market.
He said due to COVID pandemic most Goan industries have shut causing unemployment and Goa’s rating in ease of doing business too has slipped to 24th from the 21st position it occupied earlier.
Meanwhile, hailing the people of Goa for their efforts to protect their environment, Aam Aadmi Party national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal condemned the Goa government for muzzling people’s protest.
In a tweet, Arvind Kejriwal said the Goa government that muzzling protests is not a solution to the problems that the people of Goa are currently facing.
Urging the Goa Chief Minister to pay heed to the voice of Goans, he said the Aam Aadmi Party stands with the people of Goa in their fight to preserve their land. Kejriwal objected to the filing of FIRs against activists, including Aam Aadmi Party volunteers.
