Team Herald
PANJIM: Alleging that the casino culture has and is destroying ‘Goenkarponn’, the Congress on Tuesday questioned whether the BJP-led government is serious in shifting offshore casino vessels out of River Mandovi and demanded a clear policy in that regard by December 2017. The opposition suspects the possible relocation of casinos by converting them into land casinos near the proposed Mopa airport.
Addressing media persons, All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary Girish Chodankar charged, “Since 2012, BJP government, in the name of re-location, has granted 11 extensions to the casinos to operate from the river. This clearly indicates that the BJP government is run by the casino lobby. Casinos have become ATMs of the government.”
Chodankar asked the government not to fool the people of Goa but roll out a policy by setting a timeline to shift the casinos. “The latest extension granted to casinos ends in February. So we want to know whether by December 2017, casinos would be out of Mandovi river? Or it is yet another attempt to fool the people,” he said.
The AICC leader reiterated that Congress is convinced that casino culture is destroying ‘Goenkarponn’ and hence the party has taken strong stand to oppose it. “We are clear that we don’t want casinos in Goa. We want to see Mandovi River free of casinos,” he stated.
Chodankar claimed there are moves to re-locate the casinos, by converting them into land, in an area near the proposed international airport at Mopa. “Government is planning an entertainment zone at Mopa and there are plans to shift them there,” he stated.
He demanded that the government first seek the people’s consent before shifting the casinos to a particular area. “You just cannot force people to accept casinos in their areas. Consent from people is a must,” Chodankar said.
Pointing to the recent amendment to the Income Tax Rules, wherein Section 269ST has been inserted wherein the receiver is imposed hefty fines if he accepts cash spending above Rs two lakh, Chodankar questioned how many casino operators have been fined under the new rule, as the cash transactions in casinos are huge.
