BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj: Need to ban alcohol completely, explore other options for generating revenue
Policies should be formulated so that revenue from other sources can be generated, the BJP MP said.
In Short
- 300 people died because of alcohol in Unnao in the past 3 years: Sakshi Maharaj.
- Adityanath must decide when and how he will shut down liquor business, he said.
- Liquor mafia, which makes spurious alcohol, is a blot on us as a society.
Coming out openly in support of women protesting against alcohol shops, BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj has said that he is a saint and feels that alcohol should be banned completely.
In the same breath, he added that whether such a move was enforced depended on those running the government.
Maharaj said that as many as 300 people had died because of alcohol in Unnao in the past 3 years. "While it may bring in revenue, the liquor mafia which makes spurious alcohol is a blot on us as a society. It's tragic. People who never went to Akhilesh or Mayawati are now going to Yogi Adityanath. This as they feel since he is a Yogi, he will understand their pain so they have appealed to him to take stern and concerted steps in this regard. Now, it is up to him to decide when and how he will shut down this business."
Welcoming the Supreme court order banning liquor vendors within 500 meters of national and state highways, he said that he had been a sufferer himself.
LIQUOR MAIN CAUSE OF FIGHTS, ACCIDENTS: MAHARAJ
"In front of my ashram, there is a liquor shop and a kebab shop. Almost every day, there are people fighting and I feel I could be blamed for that. Consumption of liquor is mainly the cause of fights and accidents."
The BJP MP said that Niti Ayog Chairman Amitabh Kant should formulate such policies that revenue from other sources can be generated.
Responding to Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma's comment that 5-star hotels should be exempted from Supreme court's liquor ban order, Maharaj said, "Tourism should be given a boost through other means. Various avenues can be arranged to boost tourism, alcohol is not the only option to do so. But Mahesh is a good friend and I will definitely suggest him."
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