The issue of prohibition in Madhya Pradesh is once again heating up. This time too, former Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Uma Bharti is giving air to it. Describing the prohibition of liquor is very important for the development of the state. He has announced to launch a movement on the road. It has also been made clear that this movement will not be against the government, but against alcohol. His statement has once again increased political agitation in the state.
The Congress without delay signaled to grab it by saying that it would support Uma's movement against prohibition. Obviously, Congress is looking for a way to surround the Shivraj government in this. There has been no reaction from the BJP on Uma's statement so far. This clearly means that this movement which makes the government uncomfortable will not get the support of the BJP.
In fact, this is not the first time that Uma Bharti is indirectly pressurizing her own party's government by raising the issue of prohibition. In the past too, she has given a statement to launch a movement regarding this matter. She has also discussed this with Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Then after talking to him, he suspended the movement in view of the Corona crisis. It was believed that Uma has agreed with the government's stand and no longer wants to raise the issue.
In the meantime, she created a stir in the discussion with the journalists three days ago by saying that she would come out on the road for the prohibition of liquor in the state. Uma Bharti is a senior leader of BJP and the government in the state is also of BJP. In such a situation, his statement was naturally caught by Congress. She clarified that she would join the movement along with Uma Bharti.
This statement of Congress is uncomfortable for both Uma Bharti and Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Questions are being raised whether Uma Bharti will run a movement for the prohibition of alcohol in her own government with the support of Congress. Uma is defending herself, replying, 'Our movement is against liquor, not the government. Congress or any organization should not try to publicize it as an anti-government movement. I will talk to Shivraj Singh Chouhan and BJP President VD Sharma. Both are leaders with virtues. I am sure they will agree with me.
It is a noteworthy fact that the state gets revenue of more than ten thousand crore rupees from the sale of liquor alone. The economy is devastated by the situation arising out of the Corona crisis. The government is constantly taking loans to handle it. In such a situation, it is almost impossible to take a decision to shut down a large source of a revenue receipt. Even a few months ago, when Uma Bharti had demanded prohibition, Shivraj Singh Chouhan had made it clear that he is not only a supporter of prohibition but a complete prohibition. For this public awareness is necessary.
This work should be done by motivating people to stay away from drugs. On the contrary, Uma Bharti is giving examples of states like Bihar and Gujarat, how people were saved from dying by prohibiting alcohol by developing other sources of income there. He has made another argument that when liquor shops were closed in the state due to the Corona crisis, no person died due to alcohol, but many people lost their lives as soon as liquor became available.
However, it is not hidden from anyone that due to the illegal manufacture and sale of liquor in violation of the norms, there have been deaths in many parts of the state. There is also a fact that liquor is freely made and sold in the tribal-dominated areas of the state. Here the people of the tribal community are allowed to make five liters of raw liquor. If liquor is to be banned, then first of all it has to be started from those areas for which the government has given the approval to manufacture liquor.
People working against drug addiction believe that it can be stopped only with public awareness. It has never been easier to achieve the purpose of a ban by legally enforcing it. It is true that complete prohibition is in force in Gujarat and Bihar, but there are reports of illegal liquor activities every day. The reach of illicit liquor is more lethal than the liquor sold in general. If in fact, Uma Bharti wants to remove it through public awareness, then it can be a worthwhile step, but if it is a means of putting pressure on the government, then it will hardly be successful.
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