Leaders of different faiths has expressed apprehension over the Meghalaya government’s decision to legalise gambling and said this would tarnish the good name of the State and citizens will lose respect.
The leaders under the banner of the Shillong All Faith Forum (SAFF) held a meeting yesterday and decried the announcement made by the government by passing the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Rules, 2021 to enable the State Excise Department to tap the revenue potential of online and physical gaming and regulate gaming in the State.
According to the leaders, the gaming rules empowered by subsection (1) Section 29 of the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act, 2021, would pave the way for the creation of gambling establishments with the opening of casinos, gambling dens and parlours at different locations in the State.
“These would in turn promote other nefarious activities and the increase of criminality in these places. Moreover, the good name of the State will be tarnished and there is the danger that its citizens will lose the respect that has been the bedrock of our existence as local communities here,” SAFF communication secretary Noor Nongrum in a statement today said.
Stating that the forum recognises the fact that to promote development in the State, there is a need to increase revenue generation he said, “The government could explore various alternative viable options other than gambling while at the same time make sincere attempts to plug massive revenue leakage.”
