Yogi Adityanath led UP Government, in a move to mark the religious significance of holy places, stepped up with another milestone decision to impose a ban on the sale of liquor and meat in Mathura on Monday. While addressing a programme in Lucknow, the Chief Minister said, “The officers concerned are directed to make plans for the ban as well as for the engagement of people involved in such activities in some other trade.” In such a move, Yogi has asked the officers-in-charge to get things done as early as possible for the prohibition of these sales and the employment of those involved in such goods sales, in another job or trade.
The Chief Minister further suggested that those involved in the liquor and meat trade may move ahead with selling milk to revive the glory of Mathura, as it was known as the largest milk producer in the country. In addition to that, he claimed that holy places that had been abandoned for a while are now being resurrected.
He also stated, “Every effort will be made to develop Brij Bhumi and there will be no dearth of funds for this. We are looking at a blend of modern technology and the cultural and spiritual heritage for the development of the region.”
However, Yogi had also previously banned the selling of meat and alcohol in the pilgrimage locations of Vrindavan and Barsana in 2017. As per Hindu mythology, Lord Krishna and his elder brother Balram were born in the Vrindavan, a neighbouring Mathura and, Radha on the other hand was born in Barsana. For such religious significance and tourism potential, these places were labelled as holy pilgrimage sites.
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As of now, the only states that have banned alcohol in India are Bihar and Gujarat. Tamil Nadu, after experimenting multiple times, had failed at implementing such a move to ban alcohol in the state. While Andhra Pradesh also attempted in the same direction to impose a ban on alcohol in the 1990s, Mizoram was forced to withdraw the ban after 17 years in 2014.