YC’s silent demo for shifting of liquor shop

Raipur, September 02, 2011

In its protest against the opening of liquor shops in public places as well as selling of illegal liquor shops in the city, the Youth Congress (YC) on Friday demonstrated silently near one such shop based at Shankar Nagar and demanded from the local administration to shift it elsewhere.

The YC members led by their Raipur Lok Sabha president Vinod Tiwari said the Collector should quickly order closure of Shankar Nagar’s liquor shop pointing that it is in the proximity of school, college and hospital where there is frequent public movement throughout a day.

“In fact, the local administration should shift all the licensed liquor shops located in public places, especially near academic institutions and religious places, to non-populated areas,” Tiwari said.

“The illegal liquor is not only being sold in the urban areas but even in the rural pockets. About 40 percent of the state’s villages witness this practice on daily basis. The sale of illegal liquor and accumulation of drunkards in the public places has increased the crime rate in the state,” Tiwari said.

“The people have to face inconvenience owing to wrong excise policy of the government as all the liquor shops have been opened in the public places,” he said.

He informed that the liquor shops at public places had become popular hub for the drunkards and the anti-social elements who frequently tease the passers-by, especially females even in broad daylight.

He alleged that the local administration was giving asylum to the liquor contractors on government’s directives and was deliberately not shifting the liquor shops from public places to elsewhere.

The YC warned the Excise department of launching massive anti-liquor campaign in the district if its demands would not be fulfilled in coming days. “Through agitation, we will continuously mount pressure on the Excise department and state administration to tighten noose on the liquor contractors,” Tiwari said.

Tiwari demanded that besides liquor shop at Shankar Nagar main road near Harishankar College, the liquor shops in front of Police Parade Ground near petrol pump, at Lakhe Nagar chowk, near Vyas Talab in Bhanpuri, at national highway (GE road) near City Mall at GE road, Fafadih main road, near Krishi Upaj Mandi and at Arang Bus stand should also be removed.