What’s fishy, behind the interest of UK govt to push sale of liquor in the land of abode of Gods? Question people

Uttarakhand is called the state of abode of Gods with all the ancient historical relidgious places magnifying its prestige and strengthening the states’ economy being the main contributing factor despite all odds as billions of people visit here as eco religious tourists annually from the various parts of the country as well as abroad and contribute immensely to the states economy.

But despite being a state with internationally known religious sanctuaries and temples illicit and Indian made Foreign Liquor trade is considered to be the backbone of the state’s economy running into the staggering fiscal deficit of more than 44000 crores.

The Uttarakhand liquor, whether its local or of IMFL quality, is not only highly expensive but allegedly spurious as well say sources and is spoiling the health of hundreds of thousands of consumers since long. The dealers of liquor charge extre rate in every bottle purchased than the prescribed price on their labels and not only this but if anybody objects to this arbitrary sale is dealt with severely with blows, by the liquor mafias and their gangs.

There have been historical movements in the Uttarakhand hills demanding ban on sale of illicit, spurious and other kinds of quality liquors since long as the household women are its direct victims. The excessive liquor consumption in Uttarakhand Hills have not only spoiled the socio economic fabric of thousands of families but has also resulted in umpteen deaths through the substandard liquor sales n subsequent consumptions.

The liquor mafia in Uttarakhand had minted crores in the past when the liquor sale was in private hands which also led to enhanced criminalism in the peaceful valleys of this Himalayan state.

During the eighties one of the leading journalists’ of daily Amar Ujala who opposed the illegal sale and smuggling of liquor in Garhwal was brutally killed leading to a widespread journalistic movement finally bringing the murderors to justice.

After the achievement of separate statehood in 2000 several movements erupted against the privatisation of liquor sales and the government was constrained to take over this shoddy business in its own hands.

But even after that the role of the liquor mafia has not ended and those at the helm in the government allegedly help them clandestinely. During the last two years or even more after the current government came into power there had been umpteen movements in various parts of the state by the women and youths in the interior villages and local towns dissuading the excise department to restrict them opening the liquor shops, as excessive sale of highly expensive low quality liquor in the name of IMFL brands, has not only spoiled families but has also resulted in several deaths due to liver related deseases.

But despite so much of resistence and eruption of social movements the government is least concerned or deterred to pay heed to the demands of the affected women and youths of the state and has devised other alternative means to ensure seamless and uninterrupted liquor supplies in entire Uttarakhand.

The government considers the liquor sale as the major source of income generation to run the state’s economy and also to cover the enhanced fiscal deficit. Today liquor is being sold at the decentralised level in various districts n blocks through mobile vans where the peoples’ protests led to closure of liquor shops.

The government has also opened liquor sales in grocery shops who posess the annual sales turnover of fifty lacs. Now, the situation has come to such a pass that even police officers and Sub Divisional Magistrates are coming to the rescue of the excise department to forcibly repress and beat the anti liquor movement activists in order to ensure forcible opening of the liquor shops using abusive and filthy languages against women and putting protestors behind bars.

The point is, after all what’s the reason that despite so much of opposition from the local populace the minister concerned is so much interested in the arbitrary sale of liquor in the valleys of Uttarakhand.

Is there something terribly fishy behind this move or the income from liquor sale is really helping to bridge the state’s staggering fiscal deficit which has crossed the 44000 crores limit.

A vedio of a SDM of YAMKESHWAR AND LANSEDOWNE is becoming highly viral in facebook these days showing the SDM Kamlesh Mehta allegedly abusing people and threatening them with dire consequences in order to pressurise them to allow opening of a liquor shop in YAMKESHWAR, GARHWAL the constituency represented by Ritika Khanduri, daughter of the former Uttarakhand chief minister and current MP from Pauri Garhwal.

One can conveniently hear the PCS, SDM gruelling and threatening protestors by challending them with bringing excessive police force to teach them a befitting lesson.

The people of the hill say it’s really disheartening to note that instead of sending mobile dispensaries, food stuffs for the poor or ambulances for the ill patients the government is busy opening liquor shops and sending mobile liquor vends in the interiors of Uttarakhand. Now people have started questioning as to WHAT’S FISHY BEHIND SO MUCH OF INTEREST OF THE UTTARAKHAND GOVERNMENT TO FORCIBLY PUSH LIQUOR SALES IN THE STATE DESPITE PEOPLES’ PROTESTS. What’s your take friends?

pic Tehelka, Dehradun