In what has now become a ritual, it’s another six months extension for those Casinos which, with political patronage are well established and rooted in the River Mandovi. In May 2019 during that Panaji by-election Babush Monserrate had solemnly promised that if elected he would move the Casinos out of the River Mandovi within 100 days. In an expected U-turn the Panaji MLA now says that he has studied the Casino issue and that the Casinos are here to stay. So did Babush Monserrate make that promise without any application of mind? Why should anyone trust any other promise that he makes. It was also very unfair on his part to blame the Traffic Police for the mayhem the Casino vehicles create in the city. The CCP which is controlled by him is responsible for the organized chaos that Goa’s capital city finds itself enveloped in.
If Vishwajit Rane could move that proposed mega IIT project out of Melauli, so could Babush Monserrate if he was truly committed to send the Casinos for a sixer in 100 days. But that assurance of his was to fool the voters of Panaji and fetch votes while he never ever intended to fulfill that promise. It was announced recently that one Casino was being moved to the other side of the River and that the Casino offices in the city would all be relocated to the Santa Monica Jetty. All this too is a fairy tale that will hoodwink no one. Panaji’s entire D.B.Bandodkar Marg is a no parking zone, except for the privileged Casino vehicles. When he was the Leader of the Opposition Manohar Parrikar had consistently and vehemently opposed Casinos while branding them as a ‘social evil’ and had vowed to throw them out if he came to power. Manohar Parrikar had branded Casinos as "dens of vice” and had even led an agitation to demand their closure. But after coming to Power the BJP has since fallen in love with the Casino brigade which is now getting the government’s total patronage and profuse support. While the BJP is feasting and making merry with the abundant funds flowing from the Casinos, Goa has sadly become the country’s gambling hub with the allied vices of prostitution and narcotics trade also flourishing by the day while the crime graph is also moving upwards. On paper, a Gaming Commissioner has been appointed but without the gaming rules in place he is powerless and helpless. The Casino trade in Panaji is a social menace to the city which the government could have curbed by making all transactions cashless as the Casinos are known to be a vehicle for money laundering. When people elect politicians they so in good faith, in the belief that those elected will serve them with integrity and deliver on the promises they make pre-election and while in office. What they do not expect is a breakdown in Trust and rightly demand No Excuses, No Lies and No Broken Promises. Politicians who break promises must realize that false promises are worse than lies. Cause they make others hope, hope for something you’re not sure you can give or have no intention of delivering. Delivery should not be dependent on the roll of a dice. If Prime Minister Narendra Modi has any concern for Goa he should liberate our State from the evil of Casinos. We have heard enough of 'Mann ki Baat', and we would now be content with some of his ‘Sachi Baat’on Casinos. Are you listening Mr. Prime Minister? Our politicians would do well to follow Mahatma Gandhi whose commitment was to Truth not consistency of endless broken promises and U-Turns! Aires Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar – Goa – 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: airesrodrigu...@gmail.com Or airesrodrig...@yahoo.com You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires www.airesrodrigues.com