MP CM's no to new liquor shops, no IMFL at country liquor outlets

BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has turned down the proposal to open new liquor shops or encourage breweries in the state. Besides, outlets which were earlier allowed to sell only country liquor, will not be able to stock up Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) brand, as proposed.
"We will not permit new liquor shops to be opened in Madhya Pradesh," chief minister Chouhan told TOI on Thursday.He said there was a proposal by excise department to open 200 new liquor shops to enhance revenue. "We have also turned down the proposal to allow country liquor outlets sell foreign liquor", he said.
Earlier, Chouhan came in for sharp criticism over the state’s new excise policy after he assured not to open any new shop but also allowed IMFL in outlets located in villages with a population of 5000, provided there was no IMFL shop within a 10km radius. This meant that 250-odd shops selling country liquor will also sell IMFL.
"The proposal to sell IMFL through country liquor outlets was rejected by chief minister besides, opening of new 200 IMFL shops", confirmed state excise commission Rakesh Shrivastava. He said the government will also ban liquor in Ujjain during three crucial days of holy bath (Shahi Snan). "There will be a complete ban on liquor sale during holy dip in Simhastha", added Shrivastava.
The government though, has allowed income tax payers to get a possession permit of in-house use of IMFL up to Rs 10,000 per year. "This would add additional revenue to the state’s kitty", said Shrivastava.
The decision to turn down excise proposals came after some party leaders and members of cabinet opposed the move of opening new shops. Senior party leaders had also expressed their reservations about the policy saying it would convey a wrong message to the public. Recently, when Chouhan was asked in the light of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar ammouncing ban on liquor, he said, "It’s quite difficult to ban liquor completely as in MP liquor is linked to various traditions, customs and society. Hence, new outlets were not allowed to open but still a complete ban has not been announced".
The Opposition Congress, which is desperately on the look out for an issue to attack the BJP, said the new excise policy is mended by liquor mafia of state. “There in a nexus between the ruling party and the liquor mafia who fund their election campaign", alleged Congress state spokesperson KK Mishra.