the goan I network
MARGAO
Saying that Goans have nothing to cheer on the occasion of World Tourism Day, Congress MLA Reginaldo Lourenco on Thursday claimed that the government is all set to grant approval for a “casino designated area” in the State with a prominent casino operator purchasing land admeasuring four lakh square metres at Nerul.
Reginaldo has feared that the rule of law of the State will not run in the designated area, which will become a heaven for drug trafficking and prostitution and the government policies will be designed by the casino lobby, which want to make Goa a ‘sin city’.
Addressing the media, the three-time Congress MLA demanded to know from Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar whether he would be remembered by posterity for devastating Goa’s beauty and tourism by infesting the State with casinos.
“Let me again remind Manohar Parrikar that casino money is a curse money and it should never be used to sponsor or promote any activity connected with sports or culture or education or tourism or even for administrative purpose of Goa,” he said, adding ‘for the last three years, the ISL and other football tournaments are being sponsored by the casino group, indicating how much Parrikar along with his cronies are dependent on casino money’.
Saying that Goemkars will never forget the numerous protests which Manohar Parrikar had led both inside and outside the Assembly against the casinos, Reginaldo said it has now proved beyond doubt that this deceptive trick was only Parrikar’s ploy to defeat the Congress by speaking ill against casinos.
Accusing Parrikar for many an U-turn, Reginaldo said, “Even Parrikar’s much talked measure of past seven years to control casino gaming activities through Gaming Commission has not materialised and even his last assurance given on the floor of the House in the Monsoon session of the Assembly does not carry any weight.”
Demanding to know what happened to Parrikar’s promise made on the floor of the House that casino money will be put in a separate account and given to old age homes and those suffering from Alzheimer’s, etc, the Congress MLA said, “We don’t need that bad money in the budget.”
Saying that tourism has been hit because of the wrong policies and that lopsided measures will bring bad name for tourism, he said the TCP rules are being flouted with existing hotels given permission to construct two more floors without the provision of creating proper parking facility. He said the leasing of GTDC properties including the residencies indicated that the Parrikar government is on a drive to kill Goa’s tourism.
...warns Vijai to tread
cautious path with BJP
MARGAO: Congress MLA Reginaldo Lourenco has on Thursday warned TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai to tread a cautious path saying the Goa Forward supremo Vijai Sardesai may face a similar fate at the hands of the BJP like many other politicians.
He also slammed the government on its functioning, saying this is perhaps the first time in the history of Goa that two ministers were sworn in in the absence of the Chief Minister, demanding to know why either TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai or PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar did not take prominent position at the time of swearing in ceremony.
Saying that the BJP follows its time tested policy of getting people inside the party with the sole aim of finishing them politically, Reginaldo said citing instances of former minister Ramakant Khalap and Ravi Naik, Mauvin Godinho and Pandurang Madkaikar, how they have been checkmated by the BJP. “Ravi survived the BJP attempt. You can see how Mauvin is maintaining silence in the government,” he said.
Warning TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai not to boast of his importance in the government, Reginaldo said Vijai should take note of the fate of the various politicians, adding that the TCP Minister may be a next victim.
