PANJIM: Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Wednesday squarely blamed the former Congress governments for giving birth to casinos in Goa.
Replying to the discussion on the Budget, Parsekar stated that his political opponents are just trying to defame his government over the casino issue. “In 1992, the Gambling Act was amended and casinos were permitted in five-star hotels and offshore vessels,” Parsekar said.
He said that the first casino MV Caravela came in 1997 and thereafter MV Leela came in 2006. “In 2008 four casinos were granted licences within a span of four months they are MV Arabian Sea King (August), MV Pride of Goa (September), MV Casino Royale (October) and Goa Sorte (November),” he said.
Referring to the BJP’s mashaal rally in 2009, he said, the rally put a check on grant on any further licences. “Otherwise casinos would have been like fishing trawlers in the Mandovi. They were coming every month, non-grant of licence to Maharaja is one such example.”
Parsekar said, it was Congress that gave birth to casinos by amending the Act. “Since the law is amended we have to go as per law,” he said. He, however, assured that no further licences would be granted in future.
“The offshore casino which were six have become five whereas the land casinos which were 14 have become nine just because of the heavy taxation by our government,” he stated. He added, “I have never supported casinos and will never do so.”
