Goa casinos in cahoots with government: Kejriwal

Sunday 8th of January 2017

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has accused Goa’s casinos of cheating the state government of Rs 4,000 crore (US$586.8 million) in tax revenues every year, local media reports.

The minister also alleged certain government representatives, including the Congress, BJP, and Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar, to be in cahoots with the casino lobby in tourism oriented states.

“The actual tax collection from the casino industry in Goa should be Rs 4,000 crore. How much does the Goa government get in from the casinos? Rs 200 crore. If government ministers and officers are cheating the government treasury of Rs 4,000 crore, can you imagine how much money they are pocketing,” the Aam Aadmi Party convenor said at a public meeting, reported by local media.

“Last time, in 2012, Parrikar had said when the BJP comes to power, all casinos will be done away with. Why did he forget this when he came to power? He must have got a share of the casino revenue spoils. How much money did the BJP get, how much money did the Congress and officials get from the casino industry?”, he asked.

Kejriwal promised to ban the industry should the AAP come to power.

“Women are raped, women are exploited, prostitution, gambling and every kind of crime occurs in these casinos. Goans are tired of casinos. BJP cheated Goans because it is corrupt, Congress is also corrupt. Only an honest party can stop casinos,” he said, adding that the AAP does not accept funds from the casino lobby.

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