Repealing the MRGA, 2021 through an ordinance amounts to fooling the people of Meghalaya: VPP

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 14, 2022

The Voice of the People (VPP) on Friday said the state government’s move to repeal the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act (MRGA), 2021 through an ordinance would be nothing but an eyewash.

“Repealing of the Gaming Act, 2021 through the Ordinance route would be nothing but an eyewash,” VPP vice president Dr KH Shen said in a statement.

“This amounts to fooling the people of the state as unless approved by the Assembly within six months the ordinance would cease to operate thereby the Gaming Act stand revived and re-operationalised,” he said.

This came a day after Taxation Minister James K Sangma announced the government’s decision to scrap the MRGA, 2021 following stiff opposition from church leaders, pressure groups and other stakeholders.

Also Read | Meghalaya Govt to repeal MRGA, 2021 through an ordinance: CM

Dr Shen however said one wonders the real intention of this government. “If the announcement is well intended; a special session of the Assembly has to be convened specifically to repeal the Act. But this entails unnecessary and wasteful spending of public money which this government could have easily avoided had they been competent, prudent and sagacious enough in making public policy,” he said.

Congratulating the people of the state for the success in forcing the MDA government in making a public declaration that the Gaming Act be repealed, the VPP leader said this exemplifies the importance of the role played by conscious and conscientious citizens in democracy that hold the government of the day accountable to the people.

Also Read | No more casino in Meghalaya: Sangma assured repeal of Gaming Act

He however reminded that the MDA government ensured that the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming (Repealing) Bill 2022 introduced by Adelbert Nongrum, MLA of North Shillong Constituency in the just concluded session of the Assembly was comprehensively defeated.

Meanwhile, the VPP called upon the people of the state to be conscious and responsible in electing the representatives in the coming Assembly elections.

Another mistake in 2023 will further push the state down towards the nadir of development and progress from which it would be extremely difficult to revive and restore the state, Dr Shen said.