The shifting of offshore casinos out of the congested Mandovi river remained a political ripple-effect throughout the five-year tenure of the BJP-led regime since 2012. But the run-up to the 2017 election so far has seen BJP and its former ally skipping the matter and did not mention about it in their respective election manifestos, although both parties “parted” ways soon after the code of conduct was declared on January 4.
On the other hand, a bulk of political parties – Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Goa Forward, Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM) and Goa Praja Party are using the matter as a TRUMP CARD and are trying to gain ground by opposing the existence of casinos in Goan waters and emphasizing the ruling government’s U-turn on the issue. Congress manifesto says, “floating casinos on Goa’s river will be closed permanently.”
To begin with, BJP hyped in its 2012 manifesto and promised to relocate the vessels from the capital once it came to power. The party had also stated that Goans and persons below age 21 years would be banned from entering the off- shore casinos. The State, however, saw only deadline after deadline on the shifting of the huge vessels amid allegations from the opposition that BJP was hand-in-gloves with the casino industry.
With the assurance not fulfilled, and the State all set for the Assembly elections on February 4, the BJP’s 2017 manifesto is mum on the issue. While the Congress, that earlier encouraged the industry has shown its complete opposition to the existence of the casinos in its manifesto, released by MP Jyotiraditya Scindia assures banning all the casinos including the floating vessels mounted with gambling sets. Elaborating on the manifesto, GPCC president Luizinho Faleiro had stated that in the first phase, offshore casinos which are currently on Mandovi would be shut and in the second phase, onshore casinos would be banned. He had ruled out that such an action would affect employment prospects in the State.
In an interesting development, MGP that currently has tied up with GSM and Shiv Sena to contest the 2017 polls has also preferred to distance itself from the contentious issue. While the GSM and Sena’s joint manifesto clearly speaks about amending the Goa Gambling Act to enable it to terminate the licenses of all casinos subject to due process of law. The AAP too emphasizes on the closure of casinos if voted to power.
Promises by parties on the casinos
AAP: Will shut casinos and put an end to gambling, drugs and prostitution. To ensure that people currently employed in casinos are provided jobs elsewhere
MGP-SS: The Goa Gambling Act shall be appropriately amended to enable us to terminate the licenses for all casinos and the licenses for all casinos will be terminated, subject to due process of law
Goa Praja Party: Casinos existence is harmful culture for the people of Goa.
Till the EVMs are decoded on March 11, 2017, Goans will have to wait and see who (or rather who all) form(s) the government and the next course of action. Till then, the slot machines will revolve and the casinos on Mandovi and the onshore ones will continue.
