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Sheila unfurls the anti-liquor banner

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI JULY 16. Taking a strong stand against the continued Government participation in promotion of liquor trade, the Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, today declared the ultimate aim of the new Excise Policy was to ensure that the Government and its Corporation completely pull out of the liquor business and instead concentrate on developmental projects and social security for its citizens.

Speaking at the end of the discussion on the new Excise Policy, which generated a lot of heat in the Delhi Assembly, the Chief Minister said it was not the job of the Government to promote sale of liquor and this at best should be left to the private sector players. No monopoly should be allowed to mushroom in the liquor trade. Instead the Government should concentrate on encouraging groups and voluntary organisations which are working for discouragement of consumption of liquor and launch a all out publicity campaign to promote the anti-liquor campaign.

Making it absolutely clear that she was in no mood to reverse the present Excise Policy which has opened up liquor trade for the private sector, Ms. Dikshit said what business has the Government selling liquor. "I have asked my Finance Minister to ensure that if 70 liquor shops open in the private sector the same number should be closed in the Government sector. My Government is of the firm opinion that it should completely withdraw from the liquor business and instead devote its energy towards the welfare of the people,'' she remarked.

Taking the bull by the horns, the Chief Minister, in her spirited reply in the House, said the issue was not the new Excise Policy but the No Objection Certificate withdrawal for the private shops. Pointing a finger at the empty BJP benches, the Chief Minister said they were afraid that the NOC could deprive them of certain benefits. Interestingly, the tirade of the Chief Minister was also directed at some of her own party MLAs who had opposed the move to remove the NOC criteria for private liquor shops. Stating that all this gave an impression of hypocrisy at its best, the Chief Minister said this facade and drama was being enacted to protect some other vested interests.

At the same time, Ms. Dikshit made it clear that if at any point of time her Government felt that the new Excise Policy was not meetings its objective and in fact encouraging consumption of liquor, it would not hesitate to reverse that policy in public interest. Taking a dig at the BJP, Ms. Dikshit said during her recent tour of Uttar Pradesh, she found to her amazement that youngsters and other sections were consuming liquor openly on roads as it was freely available in pan shops, grocery stores and departments stores. "Why the BJP has not raised voice against such a liberal policy being followed by their own Government in UP'' she asked.

Referring to the decision to allow serving of liquor in banquet halls, restaurants and farm houses, the Chief Minister said the fact of the matter was that liquor flowed freely at these places illegally. At times, she said, when she went for some marriage or function, liquor was served openly and she had to rush out of the place to save herself of any embarrassment. The Government has only sought to remove the fear and stop this illegal practice.

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