The Hindu : New Delhi News : Delhi Government’s liquor policy criticised

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Sunday, Dec 30, 2007
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Delhi Government’s liquor policy criticised

Staff Reporter

“Number of outlets being increased for higher sales”

Policy aimed at ensuring that people get the right kind of liquor, says Finance Minister
“Shops in Nand Nagri resettlement colony market has made the environment dangerous for women”

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Government came under attack from both Congress and BJP MLAs in the Delhi Assembly on Friday over its liquor policy, prompting Finance Minister A.K. Walia to defend the policy saying it was only aimed at checking “Inspector Raj” and ensuring that people get the right kind of liquor.

To begin with, Congress MLA Veer Singh Dhingan criticised the opening of liquor shops in the Nand Nagri resettlement colony market saying these shops made the environment dangerous for women and led to wasteful expenditure by the poor who could put their money to much better use.

Muslims not happy

Likewise, he said, in Seemapuri, such a shop had been opened in the Scooter Market and this was not being liked by the large number of Muslims residing there as for them liquor is a vice.

Another Congress MLA, Shadi Ram, urged the Minister to ensure that whenever a liquor shop is opened in an area against the wishes of the local MLA, the fact should be properly advertised so that the citizens of the area do not hold their legislator accountable for it.

Leader of the Opposition Jagdish Mukhi also accused the Delhi Government of going against the Constitution, which lays down that efforts should be made to reduce consumption of liquor, by increasing more outlets for higher sales.

He said earlier there was a policy of not having liquor shops in industrial areas and to observe dry days on the first and seventh of every month when people were paid their salaries, but he said both these policies had been done away with now to increase sales. A

s a consequence, he charged, people were wasting precious money on liquor instead of taking it home.

Responding to the charge, Dr. Walia said, “We do not promote liquor but we want people to get the right kind of liquor.”

Timings extended

He said the timings for serving liquor were extended from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. to avoid harassment by inspectors. People are “free to choose” how they approach liquor, he added.

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