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'Move Goa casinos further away to end protests'
Source: PTI
June 08, 2009 15:10 IST

Goa Chief Minister Digamber Kamat on Monday said that the opposition to the offshore casino vessels would subside once they are shifted away from the public sight.

"Out of sight is out of mind. People right now oppose offshore casinos because they are within the city limits," Kamat told reporters during a press conference called to announce the achievements of government in last two years.

The Digamber Kamat-led government, with alliance partners like Nationalist Congress Party, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, and independents, completed two years in the chair on Monday.

The chief minister said that once the offshore casino vessels are shifted away from Mandovi river, all the public protests against them would stop.

"I don't think here will be any problem once these casinos move away," he said.

Goa has six offshore casino vessels, which witnessed strong protest from the public and the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party.

The issue also figured in the recent Lok Sabha polls with few Congress leaders including party spokesman Vishnu Wagh supporting the offshore casinos saying that they generate employment for locals.

The BJP, on the other hand, had prominently put up their opposition to offshore casino vessels in the election campaign.

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