The Delhi Congress workers under the leadership of its president Anil Kumar on Wednesday staged a protest outside the liqour vends across the national capital, saying that the new excise policy would turn the capital into “Nashe Ki Rajdhani”.
The protest, held outside vends in Sita Ram Bazar, saw Delhi Congress workers holding placards opposing AAP-government’s liberalised excise policy, which allows “three liquor vends” in each ward for easy availability of liquor.
Kumar said that Delhi Congress had begun the protest against the new excise policy at the Pol Khol Yatra at Krishna Nagar last night where local people and Congress workers extended an enthusiastic support to the Congress party’s opposition to the new liquor policy of the Arvind Government, as it will destroy the youth and many families, with women and children absorbing the brunt of the misguided policy.
“Delhi Chief Minister was very enthusiastic and proactive in the implementation of the new excise policy but did not show such zeal in generating employment to help people affected from Covid pandemic. The new policy has lowered the drinking age that can make young people addicted of liquor,” he said.
“The liquor business will now be handled completely by private players. They are closing down milk shops and opening liquor vends. This anti-people decision of liberalizing excise policy, which allows liquor sale in residential areas, would destroy the whole of Delhi and turn it into a ‘Nashe ki Rajdhani’,” said former MLA Anil Bhardwaj, chairman of the communication department Delhi Congress.
Delhi Congress vice- president Abhishek Dutt also led party workers and held a protest in front of liquor shop at Seva Nagar. As per the new excise policy, which was put in public domain in July this year, liquor vends will be set up in 32 zones across the city. One retail licensee will have 27 liquor shops per zone.
As per the changed policy, the city will have 850 swanky liquor walk-in stores where customers will be allowed to choose their brand as they are in shopping malls.
The Delhi BJP, under the leadership of its president Adesh Gupta, also staged a demonstration against the new liquor policy at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday.