TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Accusing government agencies for sabotaging information on casinos under the Right to Information Act, Congress spokesman Reginaldo Lourneco has demanded a probe by agencies such as the RAW, IB and NIO into the presence of the M V Horseshoe in Goan waters.
“Our request for a fitness certificate has not been acceded to. Therefore, we are led to believe that this foreign flag ship has come into the Goan waters to carry out clandestine activities and spy on the nation,” Reginaldo said at a media briefing on Saturday.
He accused the administration for cheating the people with false and malicious replies to queries on the casinos, adding, “This is being done deliberately to achieve the hidden agenda and pressurise the CoP officers,” he asserted. “On our request for a certified copy of inward clearances, the PIO in his wisdom has cleverly produced the application form of the agent and not the certificate of inward port clearance. We have asked for certified copies of registration certificate. The PIO has submitted an expired copy of provisional RC that too issued by a port officer and under the Registration of Indian Fishing Boats from a fishing village of Raigad. Further, on our query of ownership, it has been clearly indicated that Casino Royale and M V Horseshoe casino belong to different companies. However, it is common knowledge that both these casinos belong to the same owner Jaideb Mody,” he added.
Replying to a question, Reginaldo said he would now seek license wise information under the RTI on M V Horseshoe, saying that every ship seeking entry at one point in the world is required to first submit over 20 statutory certificates. To another question, Reginaldo said the Congress party is of the firm opinion that all casinos should be phased out from river Mandovi. “Parrikar used to term revenue from casinos as a curse. Why is he waiting for five years to phase out the casinos. The Congress is opposed to M V Horseshoe,” he said.
