Date:14/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/14/stories/2008061460570100.htm

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Clarify stance on lottery cases, demands Isaac

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac has asked Congress leaders in the State to come clear on the Central government stance in the lottery cases which are coming up for hearing in the Supreme Court on August 18.

Dr. Isaac told reporters here on Friday that when the appeal filed by the State government to expedite the hearing on the lottery case and the appeal filed by online lotteries against the ban imposed by the State government were coming up for hearing on August 18, the Central government decided to take a stance that online and paper lotteries were equivalent.

Since it would be impossible to ban online lotteries alone, the Centre’s decision would help such lotteries which had a gambling nature.

Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy and KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala should clarify whether they would support the legislation unanimously passed by the Assembly against online lotteries.