Congress, JD(U) want liquor ban in Jharkhand; Maharashtra BJP too joins the clamour

The Congress and the Janata Dal (United) on Friday demanded ban on liquor in Jharkhand to prevent the “prospect of sale in black” in contiguous areas with Bihar as the bordering state is going dry from April 1 next year. The same demands are now picking up volume in Maharashtra too. [caption id=“attachment_2428836” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. Reuters[/caption] “The Jharkhand unit of the JD(U) welcomes Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s decision to impose a ban on liquor in Bihar. We also demand a similar ban in Jharkhand to prevent any prospect of sale of liquor in black in the bordering areas,” JD(U) state unit General Secretary Bhagwan Singh said. He, however, expressed optimism that the Bihar government would deal sternly against any black marketing along the border areas after the decision in that state comes into force. Supporting the JD(U) demand, PCC spokesman Ajay Rai said the state government should keep a watch on labels to check illegally inscribed rates on liquor bottles. “We also welcome the Bihar government’s decision to ban liquor and demand the same in Jharkhand,” Rai said. Keeping his poll promise, Nitish Kumar had announced to ban liquor in Bihar from April 1, 2016. After the Nitish Kumar announcement in Bihar, the clamor for prohibition is growing elsewhere too. Villagers in Maharashtra’s Buldhana district too have come forward and demanded a liquor ban, reports [caption id=“attachment_2485176” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. AFP[/caption] The Indian Express. An MLA of ruling BJP in Maharashtra has written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking ban on liquor in the state. BJP MLA from Katol, Ashish Deshmukh, in his letter addressed to Fadnavis, appealed to the government to declare Maharashtra as a ‘dry state’ with a view to bring about a “social revolution”. Currently, prohibition of liquor is enforced in districts of Wardha, Gadchiroli and Chandrapur in the state. “Gujarat, Nagaland, parts of Manipur, Laskshadweep have enforced prohibition. Bihar will be dry state from April 1 next year, and Kerala also proposes to do so. I appeal that Maharashtra too should be a dry state by banning liquor sale and consumption. This will result in a social revolution,” he said. Apart from the three ‘dry’ districts, demand is being pressed in Buldhana and Yavatmal as well. A meeting to discuss the issue was also held by Minister of State for Social Justice and Excise Dilip Kamble here today where he issued strict instructions to officials concerned to check the sale and transport of illicit liquor and take action against those involved. The minister said there is no proposal under consideration of the government to ban liquor in the entire state. Meanwhile, state Revenue minister Eknath Khadse told reporters in Jalgaon that the state will suffer a revenue loss of Rs 18,000 crore annually if such a ban is enforced. “The state is facing financial strain and there is no other alternate resource of revenue generation. Hence, at present such a demand not be accepted,” he said PTI