Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh government is mulling a ban on PUBG — the battle game that is a rage across the world but has triggered controversy for its “violence and addictive nature”.The government says it has received several complaints that youngsters are “addicted to the online game” and it is affecting their preparation for board examinations. “We have sought details about the ill effects of ‘Player Unknown Battle Ground’ (PUBG). This is a worldwide game and there is no constitutional provision to take direct action on this. The matter is also related to the ministry of information and broadcasting. We are collecting information from other states and will soon take a decision on this,” said home minister Bala Bachchan during a reply to a query in the state assembly on Thursday.BJP MLA from Mandsaur, Yashpal Singh Sisodia, raised the mater in assembly through a call attention motion. He alleged that PUBG has “disturbed the routine of youth in urban and rural areas”, and is keeping people “mentally and physically occupied on cellphones”. “The violence shown in PUBG is detrimental and is like opium. The youth are exposed to modern weapons. It has been seen that children are becoming negative towards their life and attitude. The game has been banned by seven states in the country and it should be banned in Madhya Pradesh too,” Sisodia said in the House.Later talking to reporters, the BJP leader referred to National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) too saying it had sent a letter to all the states and recommended a ban on the game. All the states are required to implement it looking at the negative effect of the game, he demanded. The government took note of the concern and law minister P C Sharma told reporters in the assembly: “We are studying the adverse impact of PUBG, and are seeking legal opinion on the matter. The government will soon take a decision to get rid of this maniac gaming PUBG.”As per media reports, Maharashtra and Gujarat have banned PUBG, while Goa, Tamil Nadu and Jammu and Kashmir governments have restricted the game to certain premier institutes and hotels. These states also demand a total ban on the game.Explaining to reporters why he seeks a ban on the game, Sisodiya said: “Recent studies show alarming cases of psychological impact of PUBG, especially on teenagers and their parents. Due to excessive gaming, most youngsters are deprived of sleep, lose interest in real-life responsibilities, and have constant conflicts with parents for taking away their mobile phones. This leads to a drastic drop in grades in school exams.”

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