Cong reminds Babush about his promise to shift offshore casinos

Team Herald

PANJIM: With the deadline fast approaching, the Congress on Sunday reminded its former colleague and sitting BJP’s Panjim MLA Atanasio Monserrate about his promise to shift offshore casinos out of River Mandovi within 100 days.

Monserrate, who had contested Panjim by-election on Congress ticket, had promised to shift the offshore casinos out of River Mandovi within 100 days. Monserrate, who got elected on May 23, later joined BJP along with nine other Congress MLAs including his wife Jennifer. 

Addressing media persons, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Girish Chodankar said that Monserrate has completed 90 days as Panjim MLA and is now left with only 10 days to fulfil his promise of shifting the offshore casinos out of River Mandovi. 

"Monserrate had made the promise while contesting on Congress ticket. But now since he is part of the government, we would like to remind him about his promise to shift the casinos," Chodankar said. 

"We are hopeful that Monserrate will fulfil his promise given to the people of Panjim," he added. 

Earlier this week, Monserrate, while speaking to media persons, had reiterated that he is firm on shifting the offshore casinos out of Panjim. He had even urged Port Minister Michael Lobo to shift them to his Calangute constituency, which is a tourism hotspot. 

"As promised to the people of Panjim, I am here to ensure that offshore casinos are removed from River Mandovi. There is no going back on the promise. You all (media) be rest assured that they will be removed," he had said. 

"I am confident that Lobo will help us to remove casinos and shift them in his constituency," said Monserrate, who had raised the issue even at recent Assembly Session.