VIBHA VERMA
vibha@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: A day after the Law Department confirmed it has vetted the casino rules drafted by the Home Department, several anti-casino activists are apprehensive over the clause keeping Goans out of casino vessels.
Activists have accused the government of deliberately creating confusion over the issue of banning and the age limit.
“This government is making money from the casinos. As their term is coming to an end, the casino rules, which have been lying in cold-storage for a long time, have been vetted. The government’s intention is to create confusion,” Goa Bachao Abhiyan convener Sabina Martins said.
The anti-casino lobby has also taken a dig at the BJP-led government for taking a sharp U-turn on its decision to shift offshore casino vessels out of Goan waters.
“You are prohibiting advertisements for cigarettes and alcohol, then why not casinos? Each and every religion condemns gambling. The casinos are operating without proper rules and regulations,” activist Anand Madgavkar said.
He questioned the government’s wisdom in banning the entry of Goans while also demanding that children be kept away from entering the vessel. “Why should only Goans be banned? Goa is not a country but a part of India. As such, it should be classified that either Indians are allowed or prohibited from entering casinos,” he said. He added, “There should also be restriction on the entry of children. Having kids at a gambling place is nonsense.”
Martins, who along with others supporting the cause, has led several agitations against offshore casinos in the State, alleged that the casino rules are mere eyewash as the government is not firm about relocating the offshore vessels.
“The casino policy and proposed appointment of a Gaming Commissioner is an attempt to regularise casinos in the State. If the government was firm about its earlier assurance to the people of Goa, it would have shifted the vessels out,” Martins said, backed by Madgavkar who went on tag Goa a ‘sin city of India’.
Meanwhile, the ‘minor modified’ draft rules will be received by the Home Department in the next couple of days. “The draft rules have been vetted by the Law department with minor changes. We do not know what changes have been made as we will obtain a copy in the next few days. The rules capture everything required, including classification of Goans, non-Goans, and age group,” Additional Secretary (Home) Sanjiv Gadkar told Herald.
