Panaji bypoll: Cong promises to move out offshore casinos

Congress today said it would shift the offshore casinos out of Mandovi river near here, if its candidate is elected in the upcoming state bypoll that was necessitated after resignation of former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
"We assure to the people that all the licences given by Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP) for the casinos to operate would be withdrawn and they will be asked to move out of Mandovi river, if our candidate is voted to power," Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Luizinho Faleiro told reporters here.
Faleiro was addressing a press conference after party candidate Surendra Furtado filed his nomination before the Presiding Officer today. Furtado is the mayor of Panaji.

"The BJP-led government had promised that they will shift the offshore casinos, but now they have withdrawn from their assurance. There are so many women's NGOs, which are protesting against these casino vessels. Moreover, these casinos are a nuisance in the scenic Mandovi river," the Goa Congress chief said.
However, responding to a query, Faleiro admitted that it was his party that was responsible in letting the casinos operate in the river.
"But that does not give the present BJP-led government a licence to let these vessels continue there," he said.
According to him, shifting of casinos would be a major poll issue for the upcoming Panaji by-election scheduled for February 13.