BJP hits back at Cong over illegal gambling allegations

A day after Congress leader Moreno Rebello accused the government for turning a blind eye to the proliferation of gambling dens at every nook and corner of the State, the BJP leaders from Curtorim led by Anthony Barbosa and Sneha Bhagwat dared the Congress leader to unveil the places and names of those involved in the gambling activities.

The duo gave a clean chit to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who also holds the Home Portfolio, on the law and order front.

Addressing the media at the BJP district office on Tuesday, Barbosa and Bhagwat challenged Moreno to submit a list of the gambling dens he has come across in the State. “Since Moreno has claimed that gambling is going on across the State, he should submit the names of the organizers and the place where the gambling is taking place,” Barbosa said.

He further pointed out that the Goa police is doing a good job on the law and order front, saying the Colva police led by PI Theron D’Costa was quick in resolving the Betalbatim murder case within 24 hours.

Congress leader & ex-Curtorim Zilla Panchayat member Moreno Rebello had on Monday called upon the Chief Minister to intervene and help save the law and order situation from further deteriorating in the state.

Besides rising crimes, Moreno drew the attention of the Chief Minister, who also holds the Home portfolio, to the proliferating gambling dens in the nook and corner of the state, due to the political patronage extended by unscrupulous politicians.

The Congress leader said there’s wholesale gambling taking place across the state’s countryside and nobody is touching the issue for reasons best known to the government and the agencies. “This is happening because most of the MALs, especially from the ruling side, consider the police as their personal army. They do not allow the police independently. These politicians patronize gambling and do not allow the police to function independently,” he said.