Team Herald
PANJIM: United Ribandar residents called for a one-day Ribandar bandh on the first day of the Assembly’s monsoon session on July 25 protesting the casino vessel anchored off Ribandar.
Addressing the media, Adv Aires Rodrigues said the State Governor’s intervention will also be sought and added that they have spoken to most of the Opposition as well as ruling MLAs with a request to raise the issue in the Assembly.
“We are also in contact with other groups all over Goa. This agitation will not remain just in Ribandar but it will spread across Goa raising concerns over casino culture in the State,” Rodrigues said.
Congress MLA from Cumbharjua, Pandurang Madkaikar, who was present with Ribandar residents, alleged that a prominent BJP leader is a sleeping partner in the M V Royal Flotel Deltin Caravela.
He said the government is deliberately not sealing revenue leakages of the casino industry for personal benefits. He mentioned that the annual revenue from the casinos should be nothing less than Rs 5,000 crore whereas the State is collecting only Rs 245 crore.
“Goa has become the premier casino destination in Asia and Goa will be the first casino destination after Las Vegas. It is not only Ribandar that needs to be united but all of Goa should be united to fight against casino culture in our Goa,” Madkaikar said.
On July 7, Ribandar residents had submitted a memorandum to the State government giving it 15 days to shift the casino moored next to the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary. The deadline ends on July 22.
