Anti-casino political posturing gains momentum

An anti-casino sentiment has gained momentum ahead of the crucial by-elections in the city of Panaji that are scheduled to be held on 19th May, to fill in the legislative assembly seat lying vacant a⛦fter the death of former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.

After all major opposition political par෴ties including , and (AAP) came out with promises to the Panaji electorate to remove offshore casinos from the River Ma♊ndovi, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its alliance partner Goa Forward Party (GFP) also came up with a similar assurance yesterday.

BJP’s Goa Unit President and Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar stated yesterday tౠhat after their current term expires.

Heﷺ furthཧer added that if people so demand, even onshore casinos in the state’s five star hotels will be shut down.

“The party’s demand🃏 is that ꧅offshore casinos should be shut. If people don’t want onshore casinos, which function from five-star hotels, they too will be closed… We have been assured that the government is thinking about it and that if time comes, we will shut casinos,” Tendulkar is quoted to have said in his interaction with the press.

Not to be left out, BJPꦅ’s alliance partner Goa Forward Party also indicated that or employment to locals.

At this time, it remains to be seen whether the stand taken by major political parties amounts to anything m𝓀ore than political posturing on the eve of 🌌elections and whether there will be any change in the state government’s policy on casinos in the near future.