M. Iqbal Siddiqui,
Kachhbali of Udaipur district in Rajasthan last month became a pioneer village after voting to close its only liquor shop. Some 67% of voters opted for ban on sale of liquor in their village. In the aftermath of Kachhbali women’s overwhelming victory over the wine lovers, a number of villages and cities have stood up to demand closure of liquor shops. Recently, a group of women forcefully barged into a liquor shop in Gangapur City of Sawai Madhopur district. They ransacked the shop and set the boxes of wine afire.
The November 2015 saw a huge agitation against liquor under the Lok Sangharsh Morcha. A former MLA Mr. Gurusharan Chhabra, who sat on fast unto death on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, had to sacrifice his life on 33rd day of his hunger strike on 3rd November. At that time, everybody saw the criminal insensitivity of the Rajasthan government. No representative of the government ever visited the agitating Chhabra, till he died in the Sawai Mansingh hospital of Jaipur.
State health minister Rajendra Rathore, who came to attend Chhabra’s condolence meet, had to face strong protest. He said, “Complete ban on liquor is not possible, this will give rise to illegal trade of liquor.” The same answer was given by former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot when people demanded a complete ban on liquor in the state, as he was known as a Gandhian. He also ruled out complete ban on liquor. The fact is that, every political party receives a lot of money from the liquor merchants as party fund, hence it is difficult for them, if not impossible, to annoy them by banning liquor.
But now awareness against liquor is increasing. Especially, women are coming forth against the sale of liquor in the state. Following the declaration of complete ban on sale and consumption of liquor in Bihar, the demand to ban it in Rajasthan is gaining strength. However, the efforts are scattered and so need to be organised. However, now more and more people are joining hands against the ‘mother of evil.’
The governments should understand the mindset of people and come forward to end the monster of liquor which has consumed innumerable lives and destroyed a number of families. A complete ban on liquor in entire India is the need of the hour.
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The writer is a social activist and citizen journalist in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
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