By Aires Rodrigues
A very sad day for Goa. The monstrous Casino ‘M.V. Horseshoe’ begins operating today with a ‘soft opening’. We would now just have to keep count of how many more Goan families will be wrecked with this new added menace in the River Mandovi. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had publicly vowed that he had rejected their application and that he would not allow it. What backdoor manoeurves? Is he their sleeping partner? Trust him to pull more wool on our eyes.
It is appalling that to help his friend Jaydev Mody, the Chief Minister Mr. Manohar Parrikar has overlooked the best interests of the State. The M.V. Horseshoe is owned by business tycoon Jaydev Mody who is the son-in-law of former Attorney General of India Soli Sorabjee. It may not be just a coincidence that Soli Sorabjee was the Chairman of the Jury that selected Manohar Parrikar last December for the CNN-IBN Indian of the Year award in Politics? We also all saw Jaydev Mody prominently seated at Manohar
Parrikar’s swearing in ceremony on March 9th last year at SAG grounds in Campal. You can fool some people some time, but cannot fool all the people all the time!
Some may feel that I only criticize the government. But that has been my mission for the last over three decades. I have taken on the illegalities committed by successive governments.
While as the Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar had consistently vehemently opposed the Casinos branding them as a social evil and had vowed to throw them out of the River Mandovi if he came to power. I was part of the demonstrations he then led in Panaji. After his coming to power, I was hoping that I would be able to commend Manohar Parrikar at least on the Casino issue. But not surprisingly Manohar Parrikar has jumped right on to the ship and is firmly aboard in love with the Casino brigade.
Manohar Parrikar’s claim that casinos will bring in much needed revenue for the State is outrageous and no justification. There are many more dishounourable means of collecting revenue. But surely, they cannot be used as justifications for collecting revenue. Mr. Chief Minister you have a lot to explain on your U turn vis a vis the Casinos. Has the colour of money, turned Manohar Parrikar a shade more different or just exposed his inner hidden shade?