Prashant Bhushan calls for closure of 11 liquor shops

Demanding the closure of 11 liquor shops, the Prashant Bhushan and Yogender Yadav-led Swaraj Abhiyan said it will hold a public hearing against a liquor vend in Cabinet Minister Kapil Mishra’s constituency.

This comes even as the Aam Aadmi Party government has planned to empower mohalla sabhas to shut neighbourhood liquor shops if there are complaints of “nuisance”. Mr Mishra will host the first mohalla sabha on August 28 to handle complaints against liquor vends in his Karawal Nagar constituency.

Addressing a news conference on Sunday, Mr Bhushan released a list of 11 outlets and demanded their immediate closure. He said the Swaraj Abhiyan will launch a city-wide campaign if the government fails to act.

According to Mr Bhushan, Swaraj Abhiyan will hold a public hearing (jan sunwai) on August 23 on a liquor vend in Khajoori in Karawal Nagar. Responding to it, Mr Mishra said the outfit, founded by expelled AAP leaders Mr Bhushan and Mr Yadav, was “copying” him as he has already planned a mohalla sabha on the issue.

Anupam, media in-charge of Swaraj Abhiyan, said: “Since the mohalla sabhas do not seem to be getting a legislative authority in near future, will the government close down these shops immediately ”

“Why is the government trying to mislead by saying that mohalla sabhas will have the power to remove liquor vends, when the fact remains that no such power has yet been granted ” Mr Anupam said.

Mr Bhushan questioned the Delhi government’s move to suspend the opening of liquor vends for a year. And he wondered whether the government will allow outlets to open after the civic polls in Delhi and Assembly elections in Punjab next year.

“In case the Delhi government does not heed to the genuine demands of people, a state-wide campaign will be launched to expose the duplicity of Aam Aadmi Party and build public pressure to act,” Mr Bhushan said.

Earlier, the Abhiyan had alleged that 58 wine shops have opened up in Delhi ever since the Arvind Kejriwal-led government came to power and had demanded closure of shops where people were opposing them.