Politics is brewing over the reopening of liquor vends across Delhi under the new excise rules
The BJP in the Capital has opened another front against the AAP, which recently routed it in the Chandigarh municipal election and which appears to be resurgent in most of the five States going to elections soon. The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP is already gaining mind space and airtime in the politically significant Uttar Pradesh, besides Uttarakhand, Punjab and Goa. In all these States, it has promised a host of sops, including free electricity in the range of 300 units per household and other benefits to womenfolk. Now, the BJP is leaning heavily on the same women power to counter the AAP Government’s new excise policy. On Monday, it organised dharnas and ‘chakka jam’ protests at 15 locations against the new excise rules. The new policy ended the Government’s involvement in liquor selling business, a redistribution of liquor stores across the city and upfront collection of excise revenue. Under the policy, implemented in the city from November 17, 2021, 849 premium liquor vends are being opened across the city. The Delhi BJP’s grouse is that the Government is opening liquor shops “illegally”, with the outlets being opened near residential and religious places. The BJP’s posters, placards and banners have mushroomed ‘thanking’ Kejriwal for ‘gifting’ at least one liquor outlet in each municipal ward.
For his part, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia claims that the BJP was rattled as the new policy aims to curb the sale of illegal liquor, which the BJP’s State unit indulged in, adding that this “theft” was worth Rs 3,500 crore. Earlier, the stores were distributed unequally (some wards had none while some others had 9-10); now each ward will have an average of three stores. People can now walk into these spacious, well lit and air-conditioned vends and choose their brand. The new policy per se can’t be faulted since it ultimately boils down to the consumer’s choice. Having a liquor vend in the neighbourhood would ensure against ‘brand pushing’ (where one wants to buy a particular beverage brand but the person at the paan-stained dingy window forces him to buy another one because (a) the brand of choice is not available, or, (b) the manufacturer and distributors of less popular brand names pay a hefty commission to these Government-owned shop salespersons to forcedly boost their sales) as also against consumption of cheap or unsafe liquor.