Under attack, BJP says will shut down casinos in Goa

Panaji: Under relentless attack from opposition parties for failing to make its stand clear on casinos, a rattled BJP on Tuesday finally said it would shut down the six offshore casinos in the state and “if people demand”, even the onshore casinos would not be allowed to function.
“We (BJP) don’t want casinos in Goa. Offshore casinos would be allowed to operate till the expiry of their licence.After that, we will not grant them permission,” BJP state unit president Vinay Tendulkar said. The casino licences are renewed by the state government every year.
“We have asked the chief minister to look into the demands of people on casinos. People don’t want offshore casinos and the government will take necessary action,” he said.
Tendulkar said the offshore casino licences were granted by the Congress government. “If they were shut down, it would have sent a wrong message. That is the reason (former chief minister) Manohar Parrikar decided to continue with them,” Tendulkar said.
He also said the party agreed with the view of Mahila Morcha that if Atanasio Monserrate won the Panaji bypoll, the city would become unsafe. He also dismissed Monserrate supporters’ argument that if it was unsafe for people, Parrikar stayed there. “Taleigao is represented by a woman MLA and not Monserrate,” he said.
Tendulkar also said he had never said two Congress MLAs would join BJP. “I have only said two opposition MLAs will vote for BJP,” he said.