Delhi BJP seeks stay on new excise policy
What's the story
A Delhi BJP delegation on Thursday met the Lt. Governor to protest over amendments to the new liquor excise policy and demanded that it be stayed.
The delegation led by Delhi BJP President Adesh Gupta handed over a memorandum to the LG.
The party alleged in the memorandum that closing of 500 government vends and offering liquor licenses to private traders "smacks of corruption."
BJP's statement
The whole thing smacks of a possible nefarious deal: BJP
According to a statement, the Delhi BJP said the opening of three liquor shops in each ward was "not in the public interest."
"In one go 500 liquor shops licenses are being offered to private liquor traders. This smacks of a possible nefarious deal between Delhi Government and Liquor Lobby and this needs to stalled & inquired," it said.
Delhi Government
Government should ensure equal distribution of water, not liquor: BJP
"The memorandum says the Delhi Government's decision to open three liquor shops in every ward is not in public interest and is likely to disturb peace & law and order of many residential colonies," the BJP statement added.
The BJP leaders also alleged that instead of working for equal distribution of water, the Arvind Kejriwal Government is trying to ensure equal distribution of liquor.
Criticism
Decision to lower liquor consumption age criticized
They also criticized the Delhi government's move to lower the age for liquor consumption to 21 years from the earlier 25 years.
"The memorandum condemns government's decision to lower the liquor consumption age to 21 years from the present 25 years and calls it unwanted. The BJP says it may not be legally wrong but it's morally unwanted & so be stalled," they said.
Distribution
58% of Delhi unserved or underserved: Sisodia
Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia had said that the inequitable distribution of liquor stores contributes to illegal trade. "58% of Delhi is either unserved or underserved," he said, adding that 20% of the national capital is over-served.
79 out of 272 wards have no liquor shops, while 45 wards have one shop. 50% of nearly 850 shops are located in 45 wards, he added.