BJP, Congress tussle over closing Goa casinos

Whether to shut down casinos in Goa on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, has become a point of tussle between the ruling BJP and the Congress in the state.

The Congress Saturday called for closing down all casinos in Goa on the occasion Of Gandhi Jayanti Oct 2, a notified 'dry day' when all liquor shops and vends are closed and serving of alcohol is banned.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has shot back, asking why the Congress, during its seven-year rule (2005-12) in the state never thought of closing casinos Oct 2.

"When it (Congress) was in power, did it keep the casinos closed?" BJP state president Vinay Tendulkar told IANS.

On Saturday, Congress spokesperson Aleixo Reginaldo dared the BJP to shut down Goa's five operational offshore casinos and nearly a dozen-odd onshore casinos for the day.

"The BJP once opposed casinos. Now it is the biggest supporters of casinos. Like bars, it should also shut down casinos in Goa for a day as a mark of respect to Mahatma Gandhi," Reginaldo said at a press conference held at the Congress headquarters here.

When the BJP was in the opposition, it had accused the Congress government of allowing casinos to set up shops and proliferate in the state. BJP leaders had even threatened to "drown the casinos in river Mandovi".

However, the Opposition and civil society are accusing the BJP of cosying up to casino lobby. The Congress now claims that the BJP should live up to its promise and wind up the casino industry.

"Why is the BJP having cold feet now? It has promised to dump the casinos out of Goa, but earlier this year, it allowed one more casino to operate," Reginaldo said.