Residents intensify battle against liquor in Jodhpur

Jodhpur: Agitation by the residents of Bhadwasia's Ravidas Colony against the opening of liquor shop here intensified on Wednesday with five persons having their heads shaved off and announcing embracing Buddhism.
They also took out a symbolic death procession of the chief minister Vasundhara Raje and administered funeral of her effigy flaying her for her disinterest in discouraging the liquor sale.
Ashok Balotia, one of those, who shaved their heads off, said that they would continue their movement against this liquor shop in our locality come what may. "We are ready to face anything but opening of this shop," he said.
Last week, the residents have also threatened to convert to Islam but terming it to be a miscommunication, Balotia further said that we meant conversion only and given our allegiance to Dr B R Ambedkar, who also had embraced Buddhism, we also adopted Buddhism as his followers.
On the other hand, the administration and the excise department has not reached any solution to the standoff as yet despite holding a series of dialogues with the agitating residents of the locality.
District magistrate Vishnu Charan Mallik assured that they are up to it and would soon come out with the solution. "We are up to it in order come out with a mutually acceptable solution and hope that in a day or two, the issue would be resolved," said Mallik.
Despite the intense mass protest, the license holder is not willing to relent either. He also approached the administration and citing monetary loss, he appealed to the officials to get the shop opened.
It may be recalled that the sit-in at the liquor shop in the colony has been going on for the past three weeks, which has been endorsed by Pooja Chhabra, a crusader to ban liquor in the state apart from Congress and many other social organisations of the city.