Goa CM Declares ‘Casinos Cannot Be Shut’, Even as BJP Members Rebel Against Party

The Goa BJP government dug its heels further on Friday on the casino issue, with Laxmikant Parsekar (cover image), Chief Minister (CM) openly stating that casinos could not be shut due to legal rights of investors. The statement came, even as a BJP member revolted against his own party by joining the agitators and issuing a 15-day ultimatum to the government.

Govt ‘s Pro-Investor Stance

Leaving no room for ambiguity the Goa govt firmly stated that existing casinos could not be shut down, as businesspersons had a legal right to protect their investments. Speaking about the issue, the CM further admitted that the BJP govt was an investor-friendly one and cited the example of the centre, “Not just our government. The central government too woos investors by organising so many summits. Therefore, I will not abruptly kick out investors who have invested in the state.”

Speaking about the recent court stay against a new casino construction, brought in by the opposing NGOs, Parsekar claimed that it ‘would not be right’ to stop casinos. He also spoke of the Deltin Caravela, which the govt has been receiving flak for and pointed out that it was just a renewal of an existing license.

“Those casinos which were here are being renewed. Those people who were given permissions, whose licences were renewed, who paid money for it… they cannot be told unilaterally that you leave. This is my position,” Parsekar stated.

Additionally he pointed out that the casinos had been brought by the Congress regime and said,“I have not brought in new casinos.”

Parsekar however, declared that no further casinos would be allowed since there was so much public agitation towards them. However, on Friday a new development saw dissent within the party’s own ranks.

BJP Member Rebel

Upset over his party’s stance towards the casinos, Rupesh Halarnkar, BJP member and member of the city council came out strongly against the BJP and said, “Despite being a member of the BJP, I am ready to lead an agitation against the stationing of the casino. If the government does not remove the casino within 15 days, I am even ready to resign.”

Moreover, Halarnkar has also joined hands with Rohan Khaunte, Porvorim MLA, Pandurang Madkaikar, Cumbharjua, MLA and Ribandar residents. The group has collectively issued a 15-day ultimatum to the BJP govt to shift the fifth casino Deltin Caravela from where it is currently anchored near Chorao Island.

Makaikar has even threatened that he would burn down the casino, even as the group said that the agitation would be intensified if their demands were not met.

Suporting Madkaikar’s threat to burn the casino, Agnel Pereira, President, Britona Villagers Front taunted that, “We do not want another Las Vegas or Pattaya in Goa. If the government does not remove this casino in 10 to 15 days, we will burn it down as the government doesn’t understand non-violence. The government only understands radicalism.”

Adding fuel to the fire, Kashinath Shetye, RTI activist warned that he would approach the National Green Tribunal in Pune and demand compensation. “I will be approaching NGT seeking 5 lakh compensation to each of the traditional fishermen who have been affected by the anchoring of the MV Royal Floatel near Ribandar. From June 1 to July 31, no boat should be active in the river, however, the casino has violated those norms,” said Shetye.

Others, like Mohandas Lolienkar, Gen Sec, Goa Forward also negated the govt’s claims that casino revenues were propping the economy.

“If an industry is sick, will the government shift it to another location or is it the prerogative of the owner to shift? In the same way, why is the government trying to shift casinos? Should the casino operators try to shift?” Khaunte demanded.

The past two years have been turbulent for the BJP govt which had promised in their 2012 election manifesto to eradicate casinos, but did a u-turn after gaining power, claiming that casino-revenue was important for the cash-stripped state.

With the 2017 elections looming round the corner and the recent rebellion within its own ranks, it is to be seen how the BJP will tackle the situation.