With the 15 day deadline given to the Goa government ending on 22nd July, the agitated residents of Ribandar will on July 25th hold a day long Ribandar Bandh to demand the removal of Casino Deltin Caravela currently anchored in the River Mandovi opposite Ribandar.
The government would be solely responsible for the consequences of the agitation that would be launched on account of the failure of the government to respect the demand and sentiments of the residents of Ribandar and the neighbouring villages. The agitation against Casinos that would be launched at Ribandar would spread into a state wide one to ensure that the Casinos illegally parked in the River Mandovi are driven into the sea to be offshore as required by law. MGP President Deepak Dhavalikar must be applauded for having taken a very clear stand against Casinos. MLAs across party lines have been urged to raise the Casino issue in the session of the Goa Legislative Assembly which commences next week. Local BJP Corporator Rupesh Halankar must be commended for standing alongside with the people, while the stoic silence by MLA Sidharth Kuncolienkar on the issue is very suspicious and deafening. Manohar Parrikar while as the Leader of the Opposition had vociferously branded Casinos as a “social evil” and had called them "dens of vice" and while leading the agitation against Casinos, had also vowed to make sure that all Casinos were thrown out of Goa if the BJP came to power. However in a dramatic U turn after coming to power in March 2012, the BJP has gone all out to promote, shield and further increase the number of Casinos under the guise of promoting Tourism. Earlier the Congress and now the BJP are feasting and making merry with the abundant kickbacks flowing from the Casinos while Goa has sadly now become the country’s gambling hub with the allied vices of Prostitution and the Narcotics trade also flourishing by the day while the Crime rate is also on a steep rise It is a matter of concern that the football team FC Goa is sought to be taken over now by the Casino Tycoon Jaydev Modi whose treacherous Casinos have already done irreparable damage to Goa. Let us make a very passionate public appeal to our Industrialists Shrinivas Dempo and Dattaraj Salgaoncar to act cautiously in Goa’s best interest. Aires Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar – Goa – 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: [email protected] Or [email protected] You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires www.airesrodrigues.com
