Khasi-Jaiñtia Christian Leaders Forum (KJCLF) president Rev. Edwin H. Kharkongor today said that Taxation Minister James Sangma has insulted the tourists coming to Meghalaya by saying that only casinos will attract high value tourists to the State.
Rev. Kharkongor was speaking to newsmen after the KJCLF delegation met Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh to express its disgust over the issuing of licenses to three persons to run casinos in the State.
“The taxation minister has belittled the tourists who come to our State when he said in the Assembly that casinos will attract only high worth tourists or high value tourists. We don’t understand what he meant by that. They could be tourists who come to make money, they could be criminals or mafia. Maybe the government wanted to attract such types of tourists to our State,” Rev. Kharkongor said.
“Moreover, such a statement by the taxation minister has belittled the thousands of other tourists who come to our State as it meant that they are worthless and valueless. The minister’s statement is like underestimating the tourists,” he added.
The KJCLF president also said that from the words of Sangma, it could be understood that people of the State would not get much benefit from the casino industry.
“The taxation minister said that local people will benefit only from the footfall of the casino industry. This means that the government has nothing much to offer for the benefit of the local people,” Rev. Kharkongor said.
He also said that when the KJCLF met Chief Minister Conrad Sangma in May this year, the chief minister made it clear to the forum that the government would not rush into setting up of casinos and offline gambling in the State.
According to Rev. Kharkongor, the announcement in the Assembly by the taxation minister has shocked church leaders and also hurt the sentiment of people who are against gambling.
