Goemkarponn desk
Panaji: In a scathing attack, the Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao on Wednesday said that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is more interested in exempting casinos from the levy of 28 % GST on the pretext of tourism footfall, rather than recovering dues of Rs 349 crore from land-based casinos.
“It is surprising that instead of doing recovery of dues from casinos, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is keen to help them by excluding them from GST, that too on the pretext of tourism footfall. Does he want to prove that the tourism sector is dependent only on casinos,” Alemao questioned.
“Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant is keen to exempt casinos from levy of 28 % GST on the pretext of tourism footfall. He has failed to recover dues of Rs 349 crore from land-based casinos. Why so much love for casinos and not revenue generation to boost coffer,” he reiterated.
Alemao said that there were instances in the past wherein casinos from other countries were advertising in Goa and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had failed to pull down their hoardings. “These casinos were advertising in the state by violating section 12 of the Goa Daman and Diu Gambling Act. But there was no action by the government. The concerned departments have completely failed to tackle such a menace,” Alemao lamented, adding that the BJP government is helping them to promote business illegally.
“If tourism footfall is dependent on casinos, then Chief Minister Pramod Sawant admits that Home Stay and Caravan policies have failed, and also if eco-tourism, wellness Ayurveda, spiritual tourism, sports tourism, monsoon trekking failed to attract tourists,” Alemao pointed out.
He said that the government takes action against the common man, if they fail to pay electricity or water bills, but gives immunity to Casinos.
