Panaji : An NGO from Goa has decided to hold a mega rally here on July 2 opposing the “rising casino culture” in the state.
“The (state) government has failed to act in people’s favour. It is now time for people to act. We urge people to join in the protest, against the rising casino culture, at Azad Maidan (in Panaji) on Saturday, July 2,” Sabina Martins, Convenor, Aam Aurat Admi Against Gambling (AAAAG), a NGO, told reporters here today.
The NGO has protested addition of a new casino in the Mandovi river.
“Despite public opposition to the casinos and the promise of the (state) government to remove them, the new casino is being given permission,” Martins said.
She demanded that no casino should be permitted on land and (in) waters of the coastal state.
“The amendments to Goa Gambling Prevention Act was made to permit casinos (and) they should be repealed,” Martins added.
She claimed that every government (which came to power in the state) passed amendments in the Legislative Assembly to facilitate entrenchment of casinos, Business Standard reported.
“Amendments were brought in to include casinos in five star hotels and change the definition of five star hotel and offshore to make it easier for casinos to get permission from local authorities instead of central agencies,” she claimed.
The NGO has also sought ban on advertisements promoting casinos.