According to the Delhi government's liquor policy, there will no fresh liquor shops allowed in the city this year barring shopping malls.
Former Aam Aadmi Party member Prashant Bhushan and members of Swaraj Abhiyan on Sunday hit out at the Arvind Kejriwal government's newly-announced liquor policy, stating that the policy came without introducing mohalla sabhas as promised by the party in its manifesto. Addressing the media at Noida, Bhushan said the existing mohalla sabhas had no legal sanction to close the sprouting liquor shops and alleged the AAP is misleading people of Delhi.
"What is the legal sanction behind the CM's declaration about the role of mohalla sabha in closure of existing liquor shops. The Delhi government has no interest in passing the Swaraj bill which would have mohalla sabhas a legal entity," he said.
According to the Delhi government's liquor policy, there will no fresh liquor shops allowed in the city this year barring shopping malls. For the existing liquor shops, the mohalla sabhas gets the right to decide if they should be shut. A mohalla sabha taking such a decision should have at least 50% women.
"Only those shops should be advertised which have sanction of mohalla sabhas," Bhushan said.
He also questioned the timing of the announcement of the policy and asked why opening of liquor vends has been suspended only for a year.
"Why is the announcement of not opening any new liquor shops made by Arvind Kejriwal applicable only for one year? Does Kejriwal want to resume his anti-people liquor policy after elections in Punjab?" said Bhushan.
He also demanded shutting down of those shops operating without the consent of the locals and asked if Kejriwal-led government would share the draft excise policy public's suggestions before releasing it, since the formal policy declaration has already been delayed.
Swaraj Abhiyan claimed that the Delhi government gave different figures for the number of new liquor shopped that came up under AAP government in four RTI replies and has sought explanation for for the varying figures.
He said a public hearing will be held by Swaraj Abhiyan on August 23 at the liquor vend in Khajoori, Karawal Nagar.
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