Raipur, August 11, 2012
Congress has alleged that the government was shielding illegal liquor and gutkha sellers. “Ironically, illegal sale of liquor increased in the state despite the government spending crores on creating awareness among people about deaddiction through its Mata Vahini organisation. Therefore, the Annual Health Survey (AHS) report released by Union Health and Family Welfare ministry says that Chhattisgarh is the highest liquor consuming state of the country,” said Congress spokesperson Sushil Anand Shukla on Saturday.
He said the government did not frame effective excise policies to check illegal sale of liquor and hence the liquor mafias expanded their business in both urban and rural areas. “Still, the people hired by liquor mafias could be seen selling liquor illegally in streets but there is no one to take action against them,” he added.
He said the government claims of discouraging liquor consumption proved to be mere dissembling. “It claims that it has closed over 400 liquor shops in the current financial year to bring down liquor consumption but it took such action because those shops were not generating anticipated revenue. In fact, it never shut down any of the high revenue generating liquor shop despite public protests. This shows that the government is being steered by the liquor mafias and it has made excise rules to benefit them,” he added.
“Similarly, the government had recently banned gutkha sale in the state but even after a fortnight, gutkha is being sold in pan kiosks overtly. In fact, the ban on gutkha, instead of lowering its consumption, rather increased its cost. The black marketeers are making fat sum by selling gutkha at high rate. This is clear evidence that the government is protecting illegal gutkha sellers too,” he said.
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