Now, Chhattisgarh joins prohibition bandwagon
After Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister (CM) Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced a phased ban on liquor on Monday, Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh on Tuesday said he would also introduce phased prohibition in his state.
He announced this in Bihar's Munger, after a meeting with Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, who has emerged as an icon for the pro-prohibition movement after implementing a liquor ban in his state in April 2016.
Not just Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, but other Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)ruled states are likely to come under increasing pressure from activist groups to impose a liquor ban. Gandhian activists and women's groups hope to raise awareness for the ban in BJP-ruled Maharashtra and Rajasthan. In Uttar Pradesh, another BJP-ruled state, there have been several anti-liquor protests by women's groups after the Yogi Adityanath government took office.
The Nasha Mukt Bharat Andolan, or the movement to rid India of alcoholism, led by activist Medha Patkar and other Gandhians, will hold a meeting in Nagpur on Wednesday to demand a ban on liquor in Maharashtra. The meeting will be held at Deeksha Bhoomi, famous for its association with Dalit icon and architect of the Constitution, B R Ambedkar.
Ever since the Bihar CM banned the sale of liquor in his state in April 2016, which was apparently received well on the ground, Madhya Pradesh had witnessed sustained protests and anti-liquor public rallies led by Gandhian activists. In several incidents across the state, women's groups had picketed liquor vends, especially those in residential areas, which forced Chouhan to announce the ban. The Bihar CM had also addressed anti-liquor meetings in Madhya Pradesh, and has emerged as an icon for Gandhian activists. The cause has helped bring together Hindu and Muslim religious leaders on the same platform, as Islam strongly disapproves consumption of alcohol.