CHENNAI: The CPM state executive committee, which met in Chennai on Sunday, condemned the action of governor R N Ravi in sending back the bill against online gambling and said that all political parties should come together to demand a similar bill at the national level.
A resolution passed at the meeting recalled that the Tamil Nadu assembly had passed a bill against online gambling and sent it to the governor for his assent. Now, after many months of holding back the bill, the governor has returned it stating that the Tamil Nadu government lacked legislative competence to pass it. The governor’s move to send back the bill has raised many doubts. As many as 44 people have died by suicide due to online gambling, it said.
It is known that governors are used as tools to disrupt the functioning of the non-BJP-led states. The Tamil Nadu governor’s actions are also a part of a similar plan, the resolution said.
The Tamil Nadu government’s move to pass the bill again in the state assembly and resend it was welcomed. The legal proceedings on the same should be expedited and all political parties should stress for a similar bill at the national level, they said.
Central committee member U Vasuki presided over the state executive committee meeting. Politburo member G Ramakrishnan, state secretary K Balakrishnan, central committee members P Sampath, P Shanmugam among others participated in the meeting.