Member of the BJP and former CM of Madhya Pradesh, Uma Bharti reached the Panchmukhi Hanuman and Durga temple on Saturday (28 January 2023) and decided to stay there until 31st of January 2023 (Tuesday) as a mark of protest against the MP excise policy that the Shivraj Singh Chouhan- led BJP government of MP is likely to announce very soon.
Protest at the Durga Mandir-Protest at the Durga Mandir
What is the MP Excise Policy?
The state of MP announces its excise policy every new fiscal year. The issue regarding the 2023 MP excise policy is regarding the less stringent policies regarding sale and consumption of alcohol in the state of MP. However, Shivraj Singh Chouhan had announced on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti that he would be introducing some more changes in the policy.
Pleas by Uma Bharti
Uma Bharti has taken strict steps to vent out her dissent with the MP excise policy. She pelted stones and threw cow dung at a liquor shop as a mark of protest previously. However, she has resolved that her reformative movement will not hamper the functions of the present government or the party’s image. Some of her pleas are:
Liquor shops must be located at least 0.5 km away from any religious institution and 1 km away from any educational institution.
There must be a uniform excise policy related to liquor in all BJP ruled States in order to end alcohol- politics.
The excise policy that Uma Bharti widely criticized is that liquor licenses can be obtained very easily from the excise department by paying Rs. 500 for a private party once a week and once a license is obtained, the police or officials of the excise department are not allowed to raid such parties.
Uma Bharti sees the vision of leading Madhya Pradesh to an alcohol- free state and has criticized the administration vehemently by saying that it is pushing the State towards increased alcohol addiction and abuse.
Protest at the Durga Mandir-Protest at the Durga Mandir
MP Government’s Response to Uma Bharti
The government was supposed to announce the new MP excise policy on 31st January 2023, however, given Uma Bharti’s demands, the announcement has been postponed. Few more changes in the excise policies can be further expected.
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