Centre rule on lotteries in favour of lottery mafia:Isaac

Thiruvananthapuram:Kerala assembly today witnessed noisy scene over certain reamrks made agaist Opposition leader Oommen Chandy by State Finance Minister T M Thomas Issac. Trouble started when Issac made certain remarks while stating that Opposition leader was hurling basless charges of corruption in allowing more draws to paper lotteries from outside the state. Agitated over the remark of Issac Opposition members moved to the well of the house demanding withdrawl of unsavory remark, which was later removed from house records by Speaker K Radhakrishnan. Chandy while reiterating the allegation that LDF government was helping lottery mafia and the main promoter of lotteries from outside the state Santiago Martin was close to CPI-M, the lead partner in LDF. Denying the allegation, Issac said that if UDF Opposition was sincere in taking steps against lottery maifa, they should put pressure on Centre to delegate the power to state for taking action against 'lotteries operating violating law. Centre rule on lotteries was in favour of lottery people and state has very limited power in regulating the promoters of lotteries like Sikkim and Bhutan,Issac said. Chandy wanted a comprehensive probe into the lottery affairs particulery the recent government decision to allow two more draws per day to Sikkim lottery in the state.

Earlier speaking at a press conference at the Niyamasabha Media room, Issac said that as per Central lottery rule, a lottery promoter could conduct 24 draws per day. State has no power to refuse advance tax remitted by the promoter of lotteries outside the state, he said adding state acted in accordance with high court and supreme court verdicts in the matter. UDF Opposition had staged a walkut in the house yesterday on the same issue.




Powered by WizardRSS | Full Text RSS Feeds