SHILLONG, May 9: With the opposition to legalised gambling in Meghalaya gaining strength, the state Cabinet will now take a call on whether to continue with the proposal or stall it.
Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong on Monday acknowledged the protests against the government’s move to legalise gambling in the state and said the Cabinet will meet to discuss the matter.
“The Cabinet will decide whether to go ahead or not,” Tynsong said.
Meanwhile, the opposition to the state government’s move is increasing with each passing day.
After religious institutions, pressure groups in Meghalaya have started criticising the enactment of the Meghalaya State Regulation of Gaming Act, 2021.
Leaders of the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) on Monday met Tynsong on the issue of legalised gambling.
After the meeting, HYC general secretary Roy Kupar Synrem told reporters that his group supports the religious institutions in opposing the government’s move. “We don’t want Meghalaya to be known as a gambling state as we already have other gambling activities such as teer (archery) and lottery,” he said, demanding the repeal of the Meghalaya State Regulation of Gaming Act in its entirety.
The HYC has also demanded the nullification of the Meghalaya Gaming Commission whose chairman is reportedly a retired judge of the Allahabad High Court.
Stating that the Gaming Commission is supposed to be permanent as per the rules of the Act, Synrem said the Act does not specify the locations where gambling activities will be allowed.
“The definition of a player in the Act is anyone above 18 years of age. So, how can they say that only outsiders will be allowed for such activities?” he contended.
Denying the claims of the government that gambling will bring revenue to the state, he said the government should avoid spending on unnecessary festivals and stop appointing chairpersons and co-chairpersons of the boards and corporations for generating revenue.
“The government should take steps to plug revenue leakage through corruption,” Synrem said.
