Two Independent MLAs from north Goa on Saturday accused the BJP-led State government of “fooling the people” over its election promise to shut down floating casinos on the Mandovi river.

Criticising the Cabinet decision to extend permission for the casinos by a year, Rohan Khavtye and Naresh Sawal termed the government an “agent of the casino lobby”.

Mr Khavtye said the then BJP Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on March 31, 2014, came out with a casino policy which made clear that licences for casinos on the Mandovi river would be extended by two years and no licences would be renewed after March 31, 2016.

He said the government not only allowed transfer of a licence to another but also permitted the casino to operate in the name of a floatel.

The MLAs said the BJP had supported anti-casino agitations while in the Opposition.

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