SHILLONG, Oct 7: The Khasi Jaintia Christian Leaders Forum (KJCLF) on Friday held a special prayer meeting at the KJP Assembly Chapel in the city to express its resentment and anguish against the proposed move to set up casinos in the state.
BJP leader AL Hek joined church leaders during the prayer meeting.
Speaking to reporters after the prayer meeting, KJCLF secretary Rev EH Kharkongor said the forum has decided to make a fresh appeal to the state government to scrap the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act, 2021.
Making it clear that they are against casinos and gambling industry, he added that it appears that Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma was not willing to listen to the grievances of the church leaders. He also made it clear that church leaders will continue to oppose any move to open casinos in the state.
Rev Kharkongor also informed that they would call upon different churches and Christian groups to raise their voices against the casino move.
Asserting that the church leaders want to contribute to the idea of clean politics and good governance, he added that they have a desire to promote electoral literacy and that they would ask the people not to succumb to money pressure.
Hek said that if Meghalaya is going to have casinos, it might also become an international centre for flesh trade.
Recalling that during a previous cabinet meeting, it was explained that casinos would boost tourism, generate revenue and strengthen the economy of the state, Hek stated that he realised that “all that glitters is not gold”.
