The Milita Odisha Nisha Nibaran Abhiyan on Saturday severely criticisied both the Union and State Governments for planning to observe the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi without including total prohibition in their programmes.
“Crimes are rising in the State due to consumption of liquor and other intoxicants. The State Government has rather promoted sale of liquor after elections. Mahatma Gandhi had stated that consumption of intoxicants should be prohibited within 24 hours of Independence. Without prohibition, preaching for nonviolence is disrespect to Gandhi and betrayal to people,” said Abhiyan president Padma Charan Nayak.
Stating that former Prime Minister Morarji Desai had promised to provide half of the revenue loss to be suffered by the States for imosing total prohibition in three years, Nayak said the Abhiyan has already informed this to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but in vain.
The Abhiyan has decided to stage a mass dharna and symbolic hunger strike in front of all block offices and district Collectorates across the State on the coming Gandhi Jayanti on October 2 reiterating its demand for total prohibition, informed Nayak.