Church leaders opposes Meghalaya govt to legalise casinos & online gambling

United News Of India
 
Church leaders opposes Meghalaya govt to legalise casinos & online gambling
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Church leaders opposes Meghalaya govt to legalise casinos & online gambling

Shillong, May 3 (UNI) A Church body in Meghalaya has strongly opposed the state government's move to legalise casinos and online gambling in the State saying that it's “immoral and comes at a high price for the society.”The Church body under the banner of Khasi Jaintia Christian Leaders Forum (KJCLF) has also decided to appeal to the state government to revoke its decision by repealing the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act, 2021.“It is the responsibility of the Government to augment resources for the economic development and prosperity of the State, but efforts such as the legalisation of gambling are immoral and come with a high price to the society,” KJCLF Secretary, Rev. E.H.Kharkongor said.Stating that studies have shown that legitimising gambling is detrimental to society, the Church leader said, “Gambling can have negative effects on quality of life.”Moreover, gambling can increase criminality in several ways – through illegal acts such as forgery, fraud, robbery and murder to finance one's gambling habit.Kharkongor further argued that legalising gambling would further encourage “illegal activities, creation of venues for alcohol-related offences, flesh-trade and violent crimes.”Noting that legalising gambling would lead our “future generations into despair and destruction,” Kharkongor said, Meghalaya needs true statesmanship instead of business-minded men.“The Church must raise its voice, not just against the issue in hand, but also about the need for true and moral political leadership,” Kharkongor added. UNI RRK ARN