Drug menace in Punjab is well known, covered as it is, frequently in news. In fact, the problem there is so serious that AAP, which is fighting Akali Dal and Congress in Punjab elections due in 2017 has made annihilating Punjab drug-chain, a key part of its manifesto. In fact, Kejriwal has frequently claimed that AAP will end the drug menace in Punjab in a month.
Even during the elections in Delhi, Nashamukti was an important promise made by AAP. It now appears that like many other promises, this was a pledge that AAP and Kejriwal intended to break.
Former AAP leader, Yogendra Yadav, who is heading Swarajya Abhiyan, ever since he was booted out unceremoniously by Kejriwal claims that Delhi government has handed out nearly 400 liquor licenses ever since it came to power. This implies that almost 1 liquor license was given every day! And that’s not all, Manish Sisodia, Dy. CM of Delhi, has chosen to mislead people by hiding behind technicalities. In a statement made before Delhi Assembly, he claimed that the government had issued only 6 liquor licenses, whereas RTI responses indicate different numbers.
These claims puncture a big hole in AAP’s strategy for Punjab elections while at the same time condemning Delhi to deal with social and economic problems related to alcohol addiction. Additionally, the government of Delhi, it emerges has spent a paltry sum of Rs. 16000/- in de-addiction drives. Just to put things in perspective, the media budget of Delhi government is nearly 16 Lakh Rupees per day. Incidentally, the government earned Rs 3589 crores from liquor sales. As the Hindi proverb goes, हाथी के दान्त खाने के और, दिखाने के और
Delhi government is trying to fool its citizens by selectively quoting the number of liquor licenses that have been handed out. As per claims made by Swarajya Abhiyan, a total of 67 L10 licenses (retail vend of Indian and foreign liquor in shopping malls or airport), 69 L12 licenses (retail vend of beer and wine in departmental stores) and 227 L17 licenses (service of Indian liquor at independent restaurant) have been issued since Feb 2015.
According to Yadav, irregularities have been made in issuing L10 and L12 licenses. Yadav also alleged that government is flaunting L6 license (retail vend of Indian liquor in public sector) numbers in making its claims, while the real game lies in grating of L10 and L12 licenses. Kejriwal, in an announcement in August had promised that no new liquor shop with L6 license (government license) will be opened in Delhi in this year, thereby maintaining strategic silence on other types of Liquor licenses being handed out.
It appears that the government is playing a dirty game. It chants ‘Nashamukti’ in the open, that action is meant to bolster its credentials in Punjab and Goa while within Delhi, AAP government is on a liquor license issuing spree. The nexus between liquor and Indian politicians is well-known. One wonders if AAP is treading down the same path.
Manish Sisodia also announced that Mohalla Sabhas will have the power to decide whether new liquor outlets should come up in the neighborhood. While the mainstream media has applauded the idea as being revolutionary and in line with grassroots democracy, the reality is that the so-called Mohalla Sabhas have not even been notified as yet. There is no clarity on the legal status enjoyed by these Mohalla Sabha.
Incidentally, Manish Sisodia had also claimed that the Delhi government had issued just 6 new Liquor licenses ever since coming to power, a claim that has been challenged by rebel AAP MLA from Timarpur, Pankaj Pushkar. Pankaj has also moved a breach of privilege notice against Sisodia and has accused him of blatantly lying. Sisodia’s claim was also challenged by Opposition Leader, Vijendra Gupta who accused the government of opening more liquor shops and attempting to mislead people. It appears that the government is deliberately obfuscating facts and figures.
It is absolutely shocking that AAP government is encouraging proliferation of alcohol in Delhi. Already Delhi is blighted by problems related to harassment, rapes, drunken driving etc. Thousands of Delhi citizens lose their lives in cases directly or indirectly related to alcohol addiction. AAP government is playing a dirty and a dangerous game. In the short term, they may be able to project themselves as being opposed,by obfuscating facts and figures, to Alcohol and drugs but the legacy of such problems will be decades of death, destruction, broken homes and breakdown in society.
Even if AAP were to win Punjab and Goa, it is Delhi that will ultimately have to pay the price for Kejriwal’s naked ambitions. A concerted effort must be made by civil society activists, opposition parties and other concerned members of the society to force the government to come clean on this issue. Our future generations deserve a Delhi that is safe and liveable.
References:
http://www.ndtv.com/deli-news/liquor-ban-in-deli-not-practical-manish-sisodia-1449314