SHILLONG, Sep 20: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) has urged Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to repeal the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act, 2021.
It also asked the government to stop wasting public money on the Gaming Commission chairman and other members who draw their salaries.
Demanding their removal, the HYC said the three temporary licences issued should be immediately scrapped by putting a notice in public domain. It asked the government to further strengthen the law relating to prohibition of gambling activities, both online and offline.
The council said according to information received from the PIO, Commissioner of Taxes, Shillong, the Taxation department had constituted the Search/Selection Committee for the purpose of appointment of the chairman and the other members of the Gaming Commission.
“In the same reply by the PIO, we came to know the state government i.e. Cabinet Meeting has never discussed or approved any such appointment of the Gaming Commission as per provisions of the Act and the Rules,” HYC president Robertjune Kharjahrin said.
Recently, the CM had made a statement in the Assembly that no further activities took place as regards the granting of licences for gambling activities since May this year when he met the religious leaders. But the HYC said the statement contradicts the information provided by the PIO of Commissioner of Taxes, Shillong and the council is in a fix as to whom to believe.
Recalling also Sangma’s statement that there is only one provision in the Rules where a licensee has to put a statement at the entrance of the physical premises “that only those persons shall be allowed entry who are having valid voter ID card, Aadhaar card, driving licence or passport, bearing address outside of Meghalaya, the HYC said in the absence of any state machineries enforcing the said provision or prohibition, it is undoubtedly clear that the licensee will not be implementing the provision in letter and spirit.”
“Even if you would have stated that police will enforce the same, then as is evident from day to day reports about illegal trucks carrying coal openly plying on the road without any actions from the police, illegal mining openly taking place, corruption activities becoming a daily state of affairs, crime increasing in a rapid manner, UTPs and convicts escaping from jail in front of jail guards and police personnel, illegal drug trafficking increasing with each day in the state, alleged vehicle scams and corruption taking place even in the Police department etc, we would be ‘lying to ourselves’ to think that the Meghalaya Police will take ‘entry of persons into gambling areas’ so seriously. In fact, this will only become an extra income-earning activity for some Bent Coppers,” the HYC said.
Stating that when these illegal activities cannot be checked or controlled by the state machineries, it is next to impossible that the profit-oriented agency/gambling agency (licensee) will ensure locals are not permitted entry into the physical premises considering that the agency will greatly benefit monetarily if locals take part in gambling activities.
“We are of the opinion that even though locals may not be allowed to gamble but there is nothing in the Act or the Rules prohibiting locals to take part in other immoral activities like prostitution, consumption of drugs and others on the premises, which will undoubtedly take place on such premises,” the HYC said.
