Uttar Pradesh assembly expressed concern over the plight of the women in jail who were arrested for holding protest against the opening of the liquor vends in rural areas of the state. The liquor vends in many districts of the state were shifted to the densely populated areas of the city following the Supreme court order banning the operation of the liquor vends within the 500 meter radius of the national highways.
The issue was raised by BSP member Sukhdeo Rajbhar during Zero Hour through call attention motion. Rajbhar, who is a former speaker of the state assembly said that as many as 433 women which include women of 70 to 80 years old and some lactating mothers were arrested for staging protest demonstration against the opening of the liquor shops in their respective localities in East UP districts. He said the young mothers have been sent to jail along with their children. He said the police had registered 161 cases against these women and charge sheet is likely to be filed soon against the poor women in court.
BSP leader demanded immediate release of the poor women and also the withdrawal of the cases against them on humanitarian grounds. He said the police says the matter is under investigation. He said the women have committed no crime as they were forced to stage protest as the liquor vends besides vitiating the atmosphere of that area would also promote the drinking habit which will be detrimental to interests of the poor people.
Demanding their immediate release on humanitarian ground, the member said all cases against these women should be withdrawn as they were forced for the protest as liquor was damaging society.
The Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said the information of the member was not correct as several women have already been released from the jail. If some are still in jail the nit could be due to procedural reason as they may not have filed the bail bond required for release from jail.
The Samajwadi Party member Azam Khan also tried to speak which was opposed by the minister saying no other member has the right to speak on the notice given by other member.Azam Khan, attended the house for the first time on Wednesday.
Speaker Hridya Narain Dikshit rejected the notice and directed the government to table the facts about the women in jail in the house on Thursday.
Meanwhile in another notice relating to a police raid at the residence of BSP member Vinay Shanker Tiwari, in Gorakhpur recently, the Speaker agreed to hear it on Thursday after the government said that they will also put the version of the district administration of Gorakhpur.
The speaker refused to entertain a notice which alleges that the government announcement on the date of eligibility for the farm loan waiver scheme of the government differs from the date claimed in the Governor's address. While the government during the announcement said the farm loan would be eligible for the farmers up to March 31, 2017 while the Governor's address says the cut off date was December 31, 2016.