Report by Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Mar 26: Ahead of parliamentary polls, the Congress party in the state swore by employment to the locals to support controversial offshore casinos in Goa.

''There are around 2,500 Goan youths employed on all the six off shore casinos. They will be rendered jobless if offshore casinos are shut,'' Congress' Goa spokesman Vishnu Surya Wagh told reporters on Wednesday, March 25, afternoon.

The Congress leader, who had earlier termed Leader of Opposition Manohar as Father of offshore casinos holding him responsible for bringing in first offshore casino, on wednesday  said that offshore casinos have brought in good employment opportunities for goan youths.

''They are from all parts of Goa and employed on good posts like dealers, inspectors, slot assistants, security, housekeeping and others,'' Wagh said.

He said that many youths who were working outside the state had returned back after offshore casinos offered them the jobs.

Wagh said that the party has nothing to do with the court cases fought by the casino managements but was wary of the fact that right wing organisations had said that offshore casinos should be scrapped from the state.

''We are getting good salary here.. The job environment is also satisfactory. We will be left jobless if casinos are shut,'' Ramchandra Tari, cashier on Maharaja Casino, who was present for the press conference with 50-odd youths, said.

He said that every time there is controversy over casino, they fear that they may be laid off.

The offshore casinos in the state are sailing troubled waters after main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) pointed out various illegalities in them.

The state government in their recent order had asked these casinos to move out of city limits.

All the six offshore casino managements had challenged the state government order in the High Court.

The casinos also faced action for not having food and drug administration licences to run the restaurants.

Goa Pollution Control Board had also sealed three casinos under Hazardous Waste Management Act. The casinos were later released after they procured necessary permission from state pollution control board.