Long lines again outside liquor contracts in Delhi, view of 'lockdown'

New Delhi : Long queues are being seen once again outside liquor shops in the capital Delhi since Saturday morning. In fact, taking a U-turn on the new excise policy, the Delhi government has decided to withdraw it for the time being. Due to this, people are hoarding stock due to fear of closure of liquor shops.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Saturday that the Delhi government, taking a U-turn on the new excise policy, has decided to withdraw it for the time being and has directed the sale of liquor through government-run shops. He said that the Chief Secretary of Delhi has been directed to ensure that liquor is now sold only through government shops and there is no chaos.

Under the new excise policy, 468 private liquor shops operating in Delhi will be closed from August 1 due to the expiry of their licenses. The period of this policy was extended twice after April 30 for two months each. This period will end on July 31.

Sisodia targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleging that they (BJP) are running illegal liquor business in Gujarat and now they want to do the same in Delhi.

Sisodia also alleged that the BJP was using agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to intimidate the licensees and excise officials of liquor shops. He said that many licensees have now closed their shops and the excise officials were scared to start open auction of retail licences.

Sisodia said that they want to create shortage of liquor so that they can do illegal business of liquor in Delhi, as they are doing in Gujarat, but we will not allow it to happen.