Feature
Modi hails missile test, says Congress will ask for ‘proof’
Rudrapur/Badaun:While hailing the successful test-firing of an interceptor missile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday took pot shots at the Congress party saying they would ask for proof of the test.Addressing an election rally in Uttarakhand, he also said that more than the business class, the corrupt ways of politicians have harmed the country. He asserted his government’s war against corruption will continue.Addressing another rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Badaun, Modi lashed out at the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government for sheltering criminals. “You hear news about some country developing missiles with range of 5,000 km or 8,000 km. Last month, you must have heard the news of Pakistan developing a missile that can destroy the Andaman Islands.
“But let me tell you, India has no dearth of missiles. And today, our scientists have achieved a feat which has made the entire country proud,” Modi said hours after India successfully test-fired its interceptor missile off the Odisha coast. “The missile test fired today can intercept incoming missiles and destroy them 150 km into the sky. Only four or five countries so far have achieved this feat,” said Modi. Referring to opposition calls for proof of the Indian Army’s September 29 surgical strikes across the Line of Control (LoC), Modi ridiculed the Congress saying they might even demand proof of the missile test. “I don’t know what new demand our opponent Congress will come out with. They will say give us proof that the missile went up to 150 km into the sky. They will ask for proof of the missile hitting the incoming missile,” said Modi, evoking laughter among the crowd. “The surgical strike was such a big achievement for the country. The enemy is still to come to grips and the whole world is raving about India’s might. But there are few leaders who questioned the surgical strikes, demanded its proof. “Isn’t this an insult of our brave soldiers, an insult to the country’s achievements and self esteem,” added Modi.
He also accused the state’s ruling Congress of undermining development of Uttarakhand and called upon the people of the state to vote the Bharatiya Janata party to power to ensure ‘Vikas’ (progress), Vidyut (Electricity), Kanoon Vyavastha (Law & order) and Sadak (roads). “A business man may charge Rs 25 for a Rs 20 thing, or may pay just Rs 80 instead of Rs 100 payable to government. But it is not the businessmen but corruption by politicians and babus that has hurt the country most”My fight is against these politicians who using their power looted the country’s wealth. I know there will be difficulties in the fight against who have looted the country for 70 years. But our fight will continue,” he said.Addressing a rally in in Badaun he accused the Samajwadi Party and Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party of playing with the aspiration of the people for their political gains and asserted the BJP would usher in development if voted to power in the state.
The State Scores Extra High on Gaming-Friendly Industry Index
Meghalaya scored 92.85 out of 100 possible points in a Gaming Industry Index and proved to be India’s most gaming-friendly state following its recent profound legislation changes over the field allowing land-based and online gaming, including games of chance, under a licensing regime.
The index by the UK India Business Council (UKIBC) uses a scale of 0 to 100 to measure the level of legalisation on gambling and betting achieved by a state based on the scores over a set of seven different games – lottery, horse racing, betting on sports, poker, rummy, casino and fantasy sports
Starting from February last year, Meghalaya became the third state in India’s northeast to legalise gambling and betting after Sikkim and Nagaland. After consultations with the UKIBC, the state proceeded with the adoption of the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act, 2021 and the nullification of the Meghalaya Prevention of Gambling Act, 1970. Subsequently in December, the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Rules, 2021 were notified and came into force.
All for the Tourists
The move to legalise and license various forms of offline and online betting and gambling in Meghalaya is aimed at boosting tourism and creating jobs, and altogether raising taxation revenues for the northeastern state. At the same time, the opportunities to bet and gamble legally will be reserved only for tourists and visitors.
“We came out with a Gaming Act and subsequently framed the Regulation of Gaming Rules, 2021. The government will accordingly issue licenses to operate games of skill and chance, both online and offline,” said James P. K. Sangma, Meghalaya State Law and Taxation Minister speaking in the capital city of Shillong. “But the legalized gambling and gaming will only be for tourists and not residents of Meghalaya,” he continued.
To be allowed to play, tourists and people visiting the state for work or business purposes will have to prove their non-resident status by presenting appropriate documents, in a process similar to a bank KYC (Know Your Customer) procedure.
Meghalaya Reaches Out to a Vast Market
With 140 millions of people in India estimated to bet regularly on sports, and a total of 370 million desi bettors around prominent sporting events, as per data from one of the latest reports by Esse N Videri, Meghalaya is set to reach out and take a piece of a vast market.
Estimates on the financial value of India’s sports betting market, combined across all types of offline channels and online sports and cricket predictions and betting platforms, speak about amounts between $130 and $150 billion (roughly between ₹9.7 and ₹11.5 lakh crore).
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Delhi are shown to deliver the highest number of bettors and Meghalaya can count on substantial tourists flow from their betting circles. The sports betting communities of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are also not to be underestimated.
Among the sports, cricket is most popular, registering 68 percent of the total bet count analyzed by Esse N Videri. Football takes second position with 11 percent of the bets, followed by betting on FIFA at 7 percent and on eCricket at 5 percent. The last position in the Top 5 of popular sports for betting in India is taken by tennis with 3 percent of the bet count.
Local Citizens will Still have Their Teer Betting
Meghalaya residents will still be permitted to participate in teer betting over arrow-shooting results. Teer is a traditional method of gambling, somewhat similar to a lottery draw, and held under the rules of the Meghalaya Regulation of the Game of Arrow Shooting and the Sale of Teer Tickets Act, 2018.
Teer includes bettors wagering on the number of arrows that reach the target which is placed about 50 meters away from a team of 20 archers positioned in a semicircle.
The archers shoot volleys of arrows at the target for ten minutes, and players place their bets choosing a number between 0 and 99 trying to guess the last two digits of the number of arrows that successfully pierce the target.
If, for example, the number of hits is 256, anyone who has bet on 56 wins an amount eight times bigger than their wager.
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