Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM) on Saturday promised to shut down casinos once it is voted to power and promote village or hinterland tourism which in turn will help generate revenue to the State, which is currently facing a huge debt.
Addressing the media, GSM General Secretary, Hridaynath Shirodkar said, “Tourists do not come to Goa for casinos but visit the State to witness hinterland, cultural and spiritual tourism and our alliance after coming to power will shut down casinos in the State.”
He said that BJP is trying to threaten voters to vote for the saffron party failing which their schemes will be discontinued.
“BJP cannot discontinue the grants to English medium schools, what are they talking about shutting down social welfare schemes? No one can close these schemes and we promise to continue these schemes even after our alliance comes to power,” Shirodkar said.
He added, “These schemes are for the unemployed but in the next five years women will not require these schemes as beneficiaries are bound to earn at least Rs 15,000 per month through employment that will be generated by our alliance. Women themselves will close these schemes.”
Asked on how their alliance will continue to offer the freebies even when the State has huge loans, Shirodkar said, “We will try to promote proper tourism through which the government will generate revenue. Our alliance will start proper mining keeping in mind the Supreme Court regulations. GSM will also try to recover the Rs 35,000 crore due to illegal mining, if at all it is possible through any manner, but won’t make false promises.”
He said that the MGP-GSM-SS alliance in Goa is so strong that even the Centre is shaken that the BJP has to outsource star campaigners.
