PANJIM: In a shocking statement that could spark a major controversy, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Friday equated the offshore casino industry to a pregnant woman, whose child his government is taking care of.
“Someone had said that I was compelled to marry a pregnant woman and we have to take care of the child. So now what to do? We have to take care of this mess,” Parsekar told media persons, when asked whether the government has allowed any new offshore casinos in River Mandovi.
“No new casinos are allowed. BJP government has not given any new casino license. We have to handle the old casinos. They (former government) have created the mess and now we are being criticised by the same people,” he added.
Chief Minister said that the culture of offshore casinos was brought in by the government in 1994 and 1999, when BJP was not in power.
“We are trying our level best to shift the casino vessels out of River Mandovi. Even while giving extension by one year for the vessels to move out from the river, we have said one year or till we find alternative place, whichever is earlier,” Parsekar said.
Replying to a question, Parsekar said it is the government’s responsibility to take care of everyone including the investors. “We can’t discard investors because some other government had invited them. We have to provide them healthy atmosphere. Currently, we go around attracting investors and hence if we disturb old investors that will send a wrong signal,” he said.
“Unless we find alternative means of investment and revenue, we cannot disturb the existing investment,” the Chief Minister said.
Parsekar said there are 2,000 youth working on various off shore casinos and closure of these vessels will affect their livelihood.
