Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Referring to the statement of Industries Minister Mauvin Godinho that the Goa government will write to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman seeking to reconsider the GST council’s decision to levy a 28 per cent tax on casinos, Congress has questioned the former about his intention to lose revenue from the casino industry.
Addressing a press conference, GPCC General Secretary Vijay Bhike said that Mauvin Godinho has fallen in love with the casino industry and hence working on their welfare.
“Mauvin Godinho should first think in the interest of the public and should request his double engine government to lower GST, which is levied on essential commodities. Why is he trying to make a loss to the state exchequer by helping casinos? Has he done fixing with casino owners to get bags?” Bhike questioned.
North Goa District President Virendra Shirodkar and North Goa Youth Congress District President Rinaldo Ruzario were present.
According to Bhike, Casinos earn crores of rupees, then what is needed to bring down taxes on their business.
“We have always said that the BJP government is working in the interest of crony capitalists. This very act of Mauvin Godinho has proved it. He has never spoken in the interest of the public. He should speak about giving more subsidy to EV purchasers and ask his colleague, Power and New and Renewable Energy Minister, to grant more subsidy,” Bhike said.
Speaking about prohibiting entry for people to all the wildlife sanctuaries and waterfalls in the state, Bhike said that it is the failure of the government to come up with such orders.
“On one hand, the government is trying to promote monsoon trekking, and on the other hand, entry is prohibited. This can not be accepted,” he said.
Bhike said that instead of prohibiting entry government should have deployed lifeguards by identifying waterfalls where tourists visit. “There are many people and students who explore wildlife areas during monsoon. They will be deprived of making research or study of their interest,” he said.
He questioned whether the government would prohibit beach entry during the tourism season if anyone died due to drowning.
