Chennai: The DMK has slammed Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi for returning the online gambling prohibition bill passed by the State. While returning the bill, he said rummy is a good game from the times of Mahabharatha.
It said that the Governor is not allowing the State government to do its job and eradicate the cases of online gambling. The article said that the "brave" Governor is not publicly supporting online gambling. "Brave Governor returned the bill citing that the State government is not competent to pass the bill. Instead, he should say that the 'online rummy' shouldn't be banned as it is a good game, being carried from Mahabharatha time."
"The Governor should have said that it [gambling] continues from the period of Mahabaratha and that one good state's government should encourage such games. But the Governor is not saying this," said the article.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's mouthpiece Murasoli raised concerns over online gambling and its influence leading to suicides. "Many people in Tamil Nadu are being cheated because of online gambling, and it is leading to suicides. By witnessing all this, would the State government remain inactive? Does the State Government don't have any responsibility to curb online gambling?"
The Tamil Nadu assembly passed the bill meant to prohibit online gambling and the regulation of online games on October 19, 2022. Four months later, the Governor sent it back and sought further clarification regarding the bill from the state government.
The state government said it is committed to banning these online platforms.