AITC condemns MDA govt decision to legalize casinos

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 26, 2022

Opposition All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) on Monday condemned the NPP-led MDA government’s draconian decision to legalize casinos and promote unregulated online gaming and betting in the state.

“Despite the Chief Minister Conrad Sangma’s statement during the Autumn Assembly Session that the licensing would be stopped, three casinos still possess the legal license for operation. It’s time that the MDA government should clarify their intent rather than taking an ambiguous stance on the casinos, meanwhile, now, it is evident that their actions only favours the legalisation of casinos in the state,” the AITC said in a statement.

Earlier, Umroi MLA George B Lyngdoh was present during a discussion by JACAC at the Ing Dorbar Sajer, Nongpoh, against the Meghalaya Gaming Act.

Expressing his solidarity with the JACAC, he said “I stand here as an MLA of Umroi to show our support to the JACAC and to the fellow leaders from Ri-Bhoi.”

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Showing concern for the fiscal discrepancy of the MDA government, the TMC MLA said, “The CAG report in 2019 mentioned that 1200 crores worth of revenue were given away freely instead of being utilised for the state. If the government says that there is a dearth of revenue, then let us look at whatever is pending and collect them in a proper way.”

In the meeting, Opposition Chief Whip George B. Lyngdoh elaborated on how Trinamool Congress have been fighting tooth and nail to prevent casinos being established in the state. He explained during the Autumn session of the Meghalaya Assembly on September 15, that the state’s per capita income dropped by 1.8 percent during the fiscal year 2021-22. He added, “The drop in the PCI also indicates unemployment. When we sit with people, many youths and elderly citizens complain that there is no wage employment.”

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On the unfounded revenue earning claim from the casinos by the MDA government, he further explained, “The claim that they will receive 500 crores a year cannot be understood. According to the different reports and research, gambling will not give us increasing revenue. It is not an essential commodity like petrol or food. It is something where people will waste their time.”

While speaking on the adverse effects of gambling on the youth of the state, the TMC MLA had previously said, “The other guidelines of the law, such as the online gaming and the online betting, would bring huge loss to the youth of the state. Everyone possesses cellphones and has the power in their hands to participate in online betting and gambling, which will lead to addiction even though they do not go to casinos. They would play at home, at educational institutions.”