Upping the ante against CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan over the sale of liquor, former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and BJP leader Uma Bharti has said that she “doubts” the government’s intentions to make changes in its liquor policy to accommodate her demands.
Speaking to reporters, the senior BJP leader said that she will be submitting her recommendations for changes in the new liquor policy of Madhya Pradesh to Chouhan’s office.
During her earlier conversation with CM Chouhan regarding the policy which was formulated earlier this year, Bharti said that liquor shops should not be set up within 1 km of places of worship and educational institutions.
“The chief minister has promised that the needful amendments will be made in the new liquor policy but now I doubt that,” she told reporters on Monday, adding that CM Chouhan has asked her to submit her recommendation for amendments in the new liquor policy.
“No further fight has to be fought on this matter,” she stated.
Bharti, who has earlier pelted stones and cow-dung on liquor shops demanding a ban on liquor sales, visited Dhuandhar and spoke to locals regarding the 2022 excise policy of the state.
“I went to Dhuandhar, where I spoke to people and they informed me that there is a surge in the selling of illegal alcohol,” said Bharti.
Reacting to arguments that if the legal sale of liquor is banned its unauthorised sale will jump, Bharti said: “That is anyway already happening. So, at least if we ban the legal sale of liquor, we can be sure of that.”
The former Union minister further said: “It is a matter of concern that liquor is flowing like water at a holy place like Dhuandhar where there is also a temple of Mata Tripura Sundari.”
However, she expressed confidence in the party and the government.