CHANDIGARH: BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh today said that the new excise policy announced by the AAP government would go a long way to help the liquor mafias in Punjab.
He said the policy was an extension of what the AAP government had done in New Delhi at the cost of education and health.
Chugh took strong exception to the AAP government going back on its 2022 policy of allotment of liquor vends through e-tenders. "It clearly demonstrates that AAP wants Punjab to become a liquor consuming state and there would be no transparency in the entire system. The Bhagwant Mann government has no agenda for education and health, but for liquor the government is ready to tie with the mafias", Chugh added.
The AAP government's target to earn Rs 11020 crores from liquor is an alarming call for the state.
At a time when the AAP government has failed to curb drugs in the state, its new excise policy to promote liquor consumption would be a blot on Punjab, Chugh added.
He said the fact the quota for country made liquor has been increased by three percent was a clear indication that the AAP government is increasing the spread of spurious liquor..
Moreover, the state government's decision to allow for new bottling plants to be set up in the state clearly demonstrates the Kejriwal-Bahgwant Mann clique with liquor barons.