The Hynñiewtrep Youths Council (HYC) has expressed its disappointment in the state government’s plans to carry on with the controversial introduction of casinos in Meghalaya.
“We are of the opinion that these activities will completely destroy the lives of young and vulnerable men and women as well as their families, irrespective of which community they belong to or belief or faith they are professing,” the HYC said in a release today. “Maybe online betting and casinos will bring a lot of revenue to the state but are we, as a state and people, willing to sacrifice the future of our youths and the society as a whole and are we ready to face the ill effects of these activities on our society at large in the future?”
The pressure group was reacting to Taxation Minister James PK Sangma’s statement in the Assembly yesterday wherein he informed that three applicants had received temporary licences for casinos in Ri-Bhoi.
This runs counter to what the anti-casino Joint Action Committee was reportedly told by the Chief Minister, that the state government had halted plans on the introduction of casinos, and a report in local newspapers at the end of August where Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong was quoted as saying that the government had dropped the idea due to the intense opposition.
“However, despite the above assurances and stiff opposition from various quarters, be it the NGOs, traditional institutions, religious bodies and the public in general, the state government seems to pay no heed to the demand of the citizens of the state and went ahead to enforce the Gaming Act by already issuing three temporary licences for setting up casinos in the state,” the HYC said. “This only shows that, with each day, the MDA government under the leadership of the NPP is all out to do things as per their whims and fancies and as per the suitability of their interest. They are not bothered by any opposition be it the public or any religious bodies or traditional institutions.”
The group asked the government and MLAs to introspect and take a conscious call on whether the introduction of casinos is the right direction for Meghalaya. It also demanded that the government consult all stakeholders before implementing the act in totality and to withdraw the temporary licences already issued.
