U’khand govt looks to turn cowshed into a liquor vend

THE PAURI GARHWAL ADMINISTRATION WANTS A COWSHED RUN BY SOME FUNCTIONARIES OF VHP TO RELOCATE SO THAT A LIQUOR SHOP CAN OPERATE FROM NEAR THE BARN

That the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) milks the cow to its benefit is no secret. But for once, the Trivendra Singh Rawat government has no qualms in milking the liquor business for revenue.

The Pauri Garhwal administration wants a cowshed run by some functionaries of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), a rightwing outfit, to move elsewhere for ensuring a liquor shop operates at a spot near the barn.

Not surprisingly, the government’s decision snowballed into a major controversy in Srinagar town, 150km from Dehradun.

In May, the Uttarakhand government unveiled its new excise policy with a revenue target of over ₹2,000 crore for the fiscal 2017-18, up from the previous year’s collection of ₹1,905 crore.

This was done despite restricting sales from nine to six hours in hill districts and liquor shops facing stiff opposition from the people, especially women, in Uttarakhand.

The district magistrates are directed by the state government to ensure liquor shops run without any hurdle. Shops are provided police protection but protests continue.

The liquor shop in Srinagar also faced stiff objection. Ironically, the owner was alloted a new plot close to the ‘Gotheerthashram’ (cow shed). Women are protesting against the shop’s opening.

Citing rules, the district administration has now asked the cowshed caretakers to leave and relocate.

“We have some 80 odd cows in the shelter house. The municipal council has alloted land to operate. Locals will help to operate the place, and now we have been given marching orders,” Navin Nautiyal, one of the functionaries of the cowshed, says.

Srinagar sub divisional magistrate Mayadutta Joshi says the shed creates problems for traffic. “So we have asked the management to move to another place.”

All India Students Association former president, Indresh Maikhuri, who is involved in holding anti-liquor protests in Srinagar and Karnaprayag, accuses the BJP government of playing in the hands of liquor traders.

“No one is for cows. It is an issue raised only for politics,” Maikhuri rues.

BJP state president Ajay Bhatt defends the government, saying liquor is not a priority for the government.

“I will have a word with the chief minister. It is strange that a cowshed was asked to move to make way for a liquor shop,” the BJP state president assures.