Panaji (Goa) Congress party today accused BJP-led coalition government of fooling people on the issue of relocation of off shore casino vessels out of River Mandovi.

Speaking to reporters, All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary Girish Chodankar questioned government intension on shifting the off shore casino vessels and sought to know whether it would be possible by December 2017.

 “Since 2012, BJP government, in the name of relocation, has granted eleven extensions to the casinos to operate from the river. People of Goa are fooled by BJP on the casino issue. Every election, the party promises to shift the casinos, but post coming to power, granted extensions,” he charged.

“This clearly indicates that the BJP government is run by casino lobby. Casinos have become ATMs of the government,” AICC leader accused.  

Chodankar said that casinos culture is destroying ‘Goenkarpon’ and hence the party has taken strong stand to oppose it. “We are clear that we don’t want casinos in Goa. We want to see Mandovi River free of casinos. It has destroyed Goa and Goans,” he stated.

Chodankar claimed that there are moves to relocate the casinos, converting them into land, at area near proposed Greenfield International Airport at Mopa. He said that government should first seek people’s consent before shifting casinos in their areas.