Rajasthan CM Gehlot: "Gujarat has maximum consumption of liquor"

On Sunday, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot questioned the liquor ban in Gujarat. He opined that the State had maximum consumption of liquor among all the states in India. Acknowledging that liquor was banned in Gujarat since independence, he cited his first-hand experience living in the state for a year. He expressed displeasure over the fact that such a situation was prevailing in the land of Mahatma Gandhi.

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He said, "I was in Gujarat for a year. There is a ban on liquor since independence. But Gujarat has the maximum consumption of liquor. This is the situation of Mahatma Gandhi's Gujarat.” 

Dispels rumours

In January 2019, Gehlot has issued strict directions to the government officials to stop the sale of alcohol at shops after 8 pm. This was a continuation of the policy commenced by his regime when he was the CM in 2008. He also ordered a crackdown on the sale of illegal liquor in the state. This had led to speculations that the Rajasthan government was mulling the option of prohibition. However, Gehlot squashed these rumours. While admitting that he was personally in favour of prohibition, he highlighted the fact that a similar ban imposed in 1977 had yielded failure. However, he reiterated the drive against illegal liquor in Rajasthan. 

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"I am personally in favour of banning liquor. But a ban on alcohol will give way for illegal liquor. Under these circumstances, it cannot be banned in the state. In 1977, a ban was imposed but it failed," the Rajasthan CM said. 

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Bihar’s ban on liquor 

One of the state governments to impose prohibition in recent years has been the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar regime. Liquor was completely banned in the state from April 5, 2016, via the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016. The ban came under intense criticism for its stringent provisions, which led to the arrest of thousands of people across Bihar. Both it's former and current alliance partners in the Rashtriya Janata Dal and BJP have criticised the draconian aspects of the law. Subsequently, the government amended some of the contentious clauses in June 2018 to safeguard the common man from unnecessary harassment. 

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(With ANI inputs)