Sandesh Prabhudesai
27 September 1999
Whether it is the Hindu protagonist party like the Bharatiya Janata Party or the Church of Roman Catholics, the political parties or the voluntary organisations, the English media or Goa's vernacular press, all of them agree on one thing – oppose casinos.
Except the ruling Congress party, the rest of Goa appears dead against allowing casinos in the name of tourism. The only thing remains to be seen is whether this island-based opposition translates into a joint united action when time comes.
None of them have supported the idea of full-fledged casinos tourism minister Churchill Alemao has floated, even in principle. The only exception is Dr Wilfred de Souza, former chief minister and now the state president of Sharad Pawar's nationalist Congress Party, who as a Congressman had floated a similar idea in 1996, as the tourism minister.
"I am not opposed to offshore casinos in principle. But Goa cannot have it because neither the locals support it nor the naval authorities or the coast guard allows it in the sea. Will Churchill have it on the fishing trawlers ?", he asks.
The BJP, main opposition in the House, has once again threatened to come out on roads if the Congress tries to move an amendment to the Goa Public Gambling Act, allowing real casinos of the table games like roulette and poker.
"It reflects the perverted mind of Churchill Alemao", quips Prof. Subhash Salkar, the local BJP secretary. On the contrary, he suggests commercialisation of Goa's rich folk culture in order to give boost to our local artists and expose real Goa to the World.
The Church, on the other hand, is more worried about the future of the young generation if casinos are brought here. "Comes with casinos the immoral acts and even violence. It would destroy family peace in each household", fears Fr Albert Luis, representing the Diocesan Service Centre for Social Action.
Melsa Vaz Monteiro, representing the women's commission of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, wonders whether Alemao intends to generate revenue through casinos at the cost of our ethics and culture. "It is a legitimate outlet for those rich people who want all kind of entertainment", she feels.
"Sex tourism is a natural outshoot of casinos and local girls would be obviously exploited for it", shouts back Auda Viegas, president of Bailancho Ekvott, countering Alemao's claim that casinos have nothing to do with sex tourism.
While all the women's organisations in the state are determined to oppose casinos tooth and nail with public protests like in the past, Jagrut Gonekaranchi Fouz (Vigilant Goans Army) emphasises more on public education. Adopting a theme 'their holiday, our homes', they have already taken up a state-wide awareness campaign in this regard.
Telling people about the social and economic cost Goa has to pay and channelising these thoughts with gram sabhas passing resolutions in this regard is the strategy the JGF has adopted. "We will prepare them for a joint public action", says Roland Martins.
While his JGF plans to focus these issues more forcefully through the vernacular media, incidentally, the local Marathi and Konkani newspapers are the first one to react on Alemao's proposal.
Laxman Joshi, editor of Goa's leading Marathi daily 'Gomantak', has in fact urged the authorities to divert even from the beach tourism and promote green tourism in tune with Goa's culture and traditions.
Adv. Uday Bhembre, editor of Konkani daily 'Sunaprant', asks whether the revenue-hungry government would also take steps to attract sex tourists on the same lines. "Goa's future lies in keeping away the perverts of all kind", he suggests.
Your Comments Please
More related reports in Tourism section
