Union Defense Minister said casinos are Goa government’s ‘fait accompli’

Union Defence Minister and former Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said the industry cannot be disturbed as it is the “fait accompli” of the BJP-led state government.

India.- Union Defence Minister and former Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar declared that the casino industry cannot be disturbed as it is the “fait accompli” of the BJP-led state government.

“We had opposed casinos in the year 2007, but Congress gave six licences and made casinos fait accompli of the government that we formed in the year 2012,” said Parrikar.

The statement came whilst Parrikar was addressing a group of core party workers in Panaji in the presence of Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar. Parrikar said the party had opposed the casinos in the 2007, but the Congress government gave six licenses.

“We had opposed casinos in the year 2007, but Congress gave six licences and made casinos fait accompli of the government that we formed in the year 2012,” Parrikar said. “In 1997, we were opposing Tata Estate (vehicle planned to be purchased for ministers). But now we don’t oppose even Innova…the situations do change.”

Parrikar added that some things which are unacceptable at particular time, becomes acceptable with the time. Goa has six offshore casino vessels and a dozen of onshore ones, which are operating in five star hotel premises. The Congress has demanded that an opinion poll should be held on the issue of casinos in the state.