SHILLONG, May 19: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong has defended the Meghalaya Gaming Act that envisages making the state a hub of online gaming and legalised gambling.
He pointed out that the government only modified the Act that has existed for more than two decades.
“We did not pass the Act. We just brought in some rules and regulations,” Tynsong told reporters here on Thursday, slamming All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) leader Mukul M Sangma for demanding the scrapping of the Act.
“He should have done it when he was the chief minister for eight years. Why has he realised it now? This is not fair,” he said, advising Sangma to question himself before talking.
Pressure groups have been mounting pressure on the state government to shelve its idea of making Meghalaya a gambling hub. They include political parties, church leaders and students’ unions.
The AITC, for one, has asked the government to cancel its agreement with the firm assigned to implement gambling in the state.
The government has maintained that the activities will be allowed only for people from outside the state and for which, it will issue licences to operate games of skill and chance – online as well as offline.
‘Mukul should think about his own survival’
Tynsong, who is also the NPP national vice-president, mocked Sangma for his 2018 claim that he would return as the chief minister after the election.
He also pooh-poohed the AITC leader’s claim that some NPP legislators will quit while others will not be re-elected because of the strong anti-incumbency factor.
“I would like to request him (Sangma) to furnish me the names of those who are not going to contest from the NPP and also those who will not remain with the party,” Tynsong said.
Stating that he is not somebody who can foretell the victory of each candidate, old or new, he said: “Ultimately, it is up to the voters to decide.”
The deputy CM reminded Sangma of his prediction about himself in 2018. “He had then asserted he would become the chief minister again but lost,” he said.
Sangma, he added, should think about his own survival first as anti-incumbency can be a factor for him and others of his party too.
