Congress rejects legalising betting in sports

Congress on Friday rejected the Law Commission recommendations to legalise betting in sports, contending that such a move was fraught with risks of turning every corner-shop into a gambling den.

“Agrarian distress is at its peak but government is prioritising to legalise gambling in sports without taking in consideration the social implications,” Manish Tewari, Congress spokesman and former Union minister, told reporters here.

The Law Commission of India, in a report submitted to the government, had favoured regulating gambling in sports since it was impossible to stop illegal betting.

Tewari pointed out that a number of state governments have already banned gambling in any form including lottery as it has a negative impact on Indian society, it has the potential to impoverish families.

“It is not a good idea to turn every paan shop into a gambling den,” the Congress spokesperson said, adding that betting could also subvert Indian sports and lead to problems such as match-fixing.

Tewari also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the declining value of the Rupee.

“In 2013, Modi had said there is a competition between Congress and Rupee and who will fall lower. Today the rupee is trading at Rs 69 to a dollar. Now there seems to be a competition between BJP and the Rupee on who will fall lower,” he said.

The Congress spokesman said the Rupee lost its value and the prime minister has lost his grace.