From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Oct 4: After launching campaign against special economic zones, coastal management zone and controversial regional plan, the civic groups in goa have focussed their energy towards increasing casino activities in the state.
As a mark of protest, around 25 different organizations gathered under the banner of Aam Aurat Admi Against Gambling (AAAG), on Gandhi Jayanti today held protests on Mandovi river bank where off shore casinos are anchored.
"If you allow gambling tourism to enter, the family tourism will exit through windows," Aanand Madgaonkar, AAAG treasurer, said at the protest site.
He said that various organizations are protesting against all kind of gambling in the state and wants Goa to be like pre-1992 when entire state had no casinos.
"It began with casinos in hotels and now these off-shore casinos have made beeline in the state. We are going La Vegas and Macau way," Madgaonkar said.
Goa is the only Indian state to allow off-shore casinos with two vessels loaded with the gambling machines already permitted by the state government. The state government policy permits four more casino vessels in its waters.
The civic group activists, who held peaceful sit-in here, said that they don't agree with the violence but would not mind taking up the street, if government purposely acts dumb.
The groups earlier were active in the agitation against SEZs, CMZs and Regional Plan 2011, which saw state government bowing down to the public pressure and change their policies.
The SEZs are already scrapped by the state while Goa has opposed CMZ. The controversial regional plan 2011 is scuttled and is being replaced by Regional plan 2021.
Madgaonkar, a ship salvaging professional, said that one of the vessel brought in for installing casino machines on it is not even sea worthy. "The tugs have to pull the vessel. It's a disaster in waiting," he said.
The activists are worried that Goa is being increasingly campaigned as gambling destination in national and international market. "Look at the airport, the posters advertising casinos greet people here. This will create a wrong impression about the state. We don't want bad buggers to come here," Madgaonkar said.
Another social activist, Prajal Sakhardande, said that entire protest is against the legalization of off shore casinos.
"Entire Panaji port is flooded with casinos vessels. What are we heading for?," he questioned.
Similar protests were witnessed two years back on Gandhi Jayanti against the off shore casino management for allowing gambling wearing dresses resembling tri-colour on august 15.
"We had lodged a complaint against the off shore casino owners after we were told about the offence. Later, on Gandhi Jayanti we protested near the casino by installing Mahatma Gandhi's cut outs," Satish Sonak, an activist, who had filed case against the casino, said.