Members of four pressure groups attempted to break down the gate of a suspected site of a proposed casino in Khanapara, Ri-Bhoi, today.
The pressure groups, backed by Umroi MLA George Lyngdoh, converged on the site and demanded to meet the owner of the building. When there was no response, they attempted to break the gate down.
Lyngdoh, during the protest, accorded support to the agitators.
Although the state government has frozen its plans to introduce casinos into Meghalaya, the public is still apprehensive that the proposal could still go forwards. It was not helped that Taxation Minister James PK Sangma had announced in the Assembly recently that provisional licences were given for three casinos. Later, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma explained that the licences were issued before the government took the decision to scuttle the casino project. The temporary licences are set to expire next week.
However, further demands by the opposition and church groups for the revocation of the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act 2021 have been rejected by the government. The government argues that the act regulates activities that were previously operating in a grey area. Opponents are worried that it will open the way for online gambling.
Speaking to reporters, Hynñiewtrep A’chik National Movement president Pateng Myrsing said that the pressure groups will stand firmly against casinos and the Gaming Act as they will adversely affect the future of the youth of the state.
Speaking on the effects of gambling, Lyngdoh said, “The other parts of the law, such as the online gaming and the online betting, will bring huge losses 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.”
