PANAJI
The Congress' plans for the controversial casino industry appear to have muddled as much as the waters of the monsoon-fuelled waters of the Mandovi river.
Speaking at a press conference in Panaji, chairman of the opposition party's manifesto committee Ramakant Khalap on Sunday said that casinos simply could not be wished away, adding that the Congress would come up with a comprehensive policy to regulate casino gambling.
"Goa is saddled with the issue of casinos. You have seen what has happened to the Mandovi. We are going to take a very holistic approach to this entire thing. It is not possible to just throw them out in the sea immediately," Khalap told reporters at the media briefing.
Offshore casinos had proliferated under the erstwhile Congress regimes from 2007-2012. After the party lost power in the 2012 polls, the Congress since then had promised to shut down the casino industry.
Khalap now claims that the Congress would look to regulate the industry with the help of a properly functioning Gaming Commission.
"But a gaming commission, a regulatory body, will be put into place and we shall see to it that Goans are particularly protected from the vice of gambling, vice of drugs, vice of liquor and all sorts of things that are prevalent in Goa, everywhere for asking. We are absolutely concerned with the issues and appropriate steps will be taken," Khalap said.
When specifically asked if the party would shut down offshore casinos if it comes to power in the February 14 polls, Khalap said: "I am not saying they will be there in the Mandovi. but the whole thing will have to be examined in a proper fashion. From 2012 till today this menace has been created. Overnight you cannot nip it in the bud like that".
