PANJIM: NGO Progressive Front of Goa (PGF) has come down heavily on the government for its decision to waive off Rs 277 crore to the casino industry. The NGO, claiming that government selectively chose to favour the casinos, has called it robbery of the State and insult to the Goans, who have been paying their tax.
“Several industry stakeholders, prominent trade bodies such as the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Goa Chamber Of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) have voiced their objection to this move but the government cares a damn,” a press release by PGF states.
“Like every industry all over the world, this (casino) industry too has had to bear the brunt of the pandemic but that doesn’t mean that the government selectively rewards them with this waiver and displays their crony capitalism. This is nothing short of a daylight robbery. This is an insult to Goa and Goenkars who slog day and night for their survival and pay taxes only to realise that their government has thought to selectively reward the casino lobby,” it added.
The NGO recalled that while BJP, which protested against the casinos, used the issue as a weapon to win elections in 2012. However, post 2012 elections BJP took a U-turn with decisions favouring the casinos industry.
“What is even more shocking is that the flamboyant Panjim MLA Atanasio Monserrate, who is now a loyal ‘bhakt’ post July 2019, and the one who vowed to shift casinos within 100 days of getting elected, has been a mute spectator, perhaps realising that his hidden graves may open up the day he becomes vocal against BJP,” reads the statement.
The activists further pointed out to another decision on May 15, 2020 wherein Goa government in order to curb government spending, suspended the lucrative Housing Building Advance Scheme, initiated in 1988 under which government employees had the privilege of owning homes at subsidized interest rate.
“Now the government employees will have to borrow loans at prevailing interest rates. Thus, this suspension is nothing short of a direct attack on government employees and their desire to own a home seems a difficult proposition altogether. Both these decisions clearly contradict each other and shows utter disrespect towards honest tax payers, government employees,” it said.
