PANAJI: Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday launched a scathing attack against the State government's pro-casino policy and demanded that candidates of the national political parties, including the ruling BJP, should come out with their stand on casinos.
Valmiki Naik, who will fight the May 19 bypoll in Panaji said the government's oft repeated claim that casinos were earning it revenue and generating employment for locals was only a myth.
Displaying an advertisement published in a newspaper in Nepal seeking employees for a casino in Goa, Naik said the State government has spent and is continuing to pour tax-payers money for creating infrastructure like jetties, office premises, etc., for casinos at the new Captain of Ports building but very few 'Goans' are landing jobs.
He alleged that the newly created multi-level parking facility is meant only for the clientele of the casinos who first encroached in the Mandovi river and are now taking over the jetties.
The land on the footpath was once encroached by one of the casinos and the people led by AAP had to protest to ensure the right of the pedestrians over it was restored, Naik said.
AAP general secretary Pradeep Padgaonkar said voting cards are being issued en-masse to non-Goan workers of the casino industry which will create a problem.
Padgaonkar asked why the government was providing all facilities to the casinos, when there is a lot of basic infrastructure work needed to be done in the State.
There is not a single public toilet facility along any of the highways in Goa, Padgaonkar said, adding that ministers were giving preference to casinos because they are getting kickbacks.
