New critics on the Goa casino industry

Former chief of the RSS Subhash Velingkar fired at Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for backing the Goa casino industry in a recent statement.

India.- The Goa casino industry has politics intertwined in a heated debate. Many want it gone and some – at least – want it out of the Mandovi river.

Former chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) Subhash Velingkar criticised Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. The official had backed the Goa casino industry in a recent statement and received critics for it.

“It is a shame that the BJP-led coalition government in Goa is openly backing the casino industry. Since when have casinos become a part of the official tourism policy of the state,” Velingkar said, as quoted by webindia123.

“The government should come out with a white paper and share information about how much income the state earns from the casinos and how many Goans are employed in the casinos. What will be the long-term effect of the casinos on the environment, Goan heritage and Goan identity,” he said.

Policy changes

The appointment of a new gaming commission and a casino policy update has been in the making for months. Goa continues to consider how to implement said changes, but it is now in the final stretch.

Goa chief minister Dr Pramod Sawant told the local media in April that both issues are close to resolution. He said: “they need time and cannot be decided arbitrarily,” but it is certainly getting closer.

The new Goa casino policy would get venues out of the Mandovi River and into a designated gaming zone.