Giving little reason to cheer to its alliance partner, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the Punjab unit of BJP on Monday picked holes in the State Government’s policy regarding liquor vends. It has alleged that there are no timings for the opening and closing of liquor vends, which start functioning in the morning even before the opening of religious institutions. It has demanded that the sale of liquor should be regulated.
The issue was raised by BJP national vice-president and Rajya Sabha MP Avinash Rai Khanna, and Assistant Media Advisor to the State Government Vineet Joshi with the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal by writing him a letter. The two leaders, pointing at the “growing public sentiment” in support of regulating the sale of liquor, have sought Badal’s intervention to fix timing for the liquor vends from 12 noon to 7 pm during the day. For the same, they have sought to amend the Punjab Excise policy.
Khanna, in his letter, stated that he was surprised to see liquor vends open as early as 5 am in the State when even milk shops are still to open for the day. “Often when I travel from Phagwara railway station, I see the liquor vends operational at 6 am. It is flocked by labourers and rickshaw pullers,” he said. Some liquor shops have been seen operating round the clock as their salesmen are available all the time, they pointed.
The saffron party maintained that the move would “send a strong message to the public that the government is serious to control the epidemic of drugs and liquor in Punjab”. The leaders have also urged the state government to close liquor vends where even local residents are opposing its set up. The issue was raised by the two leaders following the suggestions received during the 17 anti-drug programs, including the round table conferences, involving people from different walks of life, held across Punjab and Chandigarh to understand the solution of drug menace under the aegis of Joshi Foundation in past six months.