Goa Does Not Need Casinos, Says Congress

The Congress has criticized Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for stating that Goa requires casino satta revenue.

Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco of the Congress Party told reporters that Parikkar had stated in assembly in Aug 2012 that Goa did not require casino satta profits because “it was bad money.” On the same occasion, he had stated that casino satta revenue will be maintained separately and used only to run old-age homes.

Lourenco accused Parriker of rising to political power in Goa by playing active roles in organizations such as Aam Aurat Aadmi Against Gambling (AAAAG) in a bid to portray himself as the man who could eliminate casinos from Goa.

He stated that that the chief minister had uttered a lie when he stated that Goa needs the Rs. 150 crore it obtains from casino revenue, adding that Goa can manage fine without any casinos.

Futher, he accused the chief minister of permitting the MV Horsehoe to anchor illegally on River Mandovi to permit floating casinos on River Zuari. Besides, he alleged that the minister is trying to issue a new license to Rakesh Wadhwa, former Nepalese casino king, to start land casinos in Porvorim

Parrikar is supporting casino satta culture that is not even benefiting Goa in terms of employment, he alleged. Stating that Update Recreation and Gaming Private Limited, a casino company belonging to Wadhwa, already has three casinos in Goa, he complained that Wadhwa employs only foreigners and gives only low-profile jobs such as those of bouncers, waiters, and drivers to the residents of Goa.