Says dance bar shutdown was to protect youth and dignity of women.
Under fire after the Supreme Court struck down the state’s ban on dance bars, home minister RR Patil lashed out at pro-dance bar critics, questioning whether they would be at ease with a dance bar operating in front of their houses.
Debunking claims that the 2005 ban had caused unemployment, he pointed out that not even one bar girl had applied to the government for rehabilitation. Patil said they were looking at options like filing a review petition against the order and if this were rejected, could amend the law.
“Those who talk [in favour of dance bars] must think if they would like a dance bar in the vicinity of their homes… or a dance bar in front of their gates,” said the otherwise mild-mannered Patil, adding that the ban was in accordance with public sentiment to protect the youth and dignity of women.
Patil, who emerged as the darling of the lower- and middle-class after the ban, said though the court had pointed out that such performances were allowed in hotels starred three and above, not even one three star had sought a licence for such performances while only eight licences had been given to five stars, who had not used them even once.
“Dance bars repeatedly flouted laws… no such crimes were committed in five stars,” he added, stating that allowing dance bars to proliferate would have given Maharashtra a bad name. Patil questioned social security measures taken by bar owners for the welfare of bar girls.
“There are many discriminatory things… there is a different tax structure for bars and five stars. While Wardha is under prohibition, it is not so in the rest of Maharashtra,” added Patil. He said the state needed to prohibit some occupations, and pointed how a delegation of hooch sellers had met him in the past seeking that they be allowed to brew hooch like liquor barons did.
Patil said that after the ban was overturned, many women’s organisations had demanded that dance bars continued to be proscribed.
Putting up defence
Home minister RR Patil debunked claims that the ban on dance bars had caused unemployment. He said not even one bar girl had applied to the government for rehabilitation.
Claiming that dance bars had repeatedly flouted laws, Patil said that allowing dance bars to proliferate would have given Maharashtra a bad name.
He questioned social security measures taken by bar owners for the welfare of bar girls.
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