The opposition Trinamool Congress on Thursday said after repeated protests from pressure groups supported earnestly by the Meghalaya TMC leaders, the government finally bowed down to the demands of the people to repeal the Meghalaya Gaming Act, 2021.
In a press statement, TMC said, “The repealment of the Meghalaya Gaming Act, 2021 is a victory of people in the state. The submission of the MDA government to the people’s will, further proves the incompetency of the confused MDA government, as the Minister In Charge of Taxation James K Sangma had termed the act to be “new and novel” previously. “
The opposition party in a press statement mentioned that Meghalaya TMC MLA George B. Lyngdoh had consistently raised his voice against the gaming act during the Assembly Autumn Session saying, “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.”
On the unfounded revenue earning claim from the casinos by the MDA government, Meghalaya TMC MLA George B. Lyngdoh pointed out earlier, “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.”
Meanwhile, Suspended Congress leader Ampareen Lyngdoh on Thursday said the MDA government’s decision to scrap the Meghalaya Regulation of Gambling Act (MRGA), 2021 is a good decision.
Speaking to reporters, Lyngdoh said it is a good decision because that is the voice of the people.
The East Shillong MLA said whether or not the people of Meghalaya are ready for a casino mentally, spiritually and morally is what has been discussed.
“And there is a general consensus that likely Meghalaya is not ready spiritually and morally to prepare themselves for those kinds of scenarios,” she stated.
Lyngdoh also recalled that she had proposed amendments when the Gaming Bill was introduced in the Assembly last year.
“It was I who rose in the House to propose amendments and beg not to move the Gaming Bill but at that time the public probably did not understand it,” she said..
“Of course there are pros but if the cons overshadow the pros then you have to go by what people want. That is good and we will go and we will repeal it.”
Lyngdoh said she presumes that the government will now pass an ordinance on the matter or otherwise call for a special session to repeal the Gaming Act.
“We have no idea as we are just members of the MDA. The leader of the MDA will make his statement as to what is the model they are going to adopt but I for one I am thankful that a review was done and the voice of many was listened to,” she said.