‘Govt trying to do a U-turn by introducing new rule’

ROHTAK: The Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP’s) Haryana unit president, Naveen Jaihind, on Monday hit out at the BJP-JJP coalition government and blamed chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar and his deputy Dushyant Chautala for not taking any action to shut down the liquor shops in villages across the state.

Addressing a press conference, Jaihind alleged that both the parties had promised in their manifestos that liquor vends would be closed in villages but now, he said, they were trying to do a U-turn by bringing a new contract rule.

“The government is likely to bring a new rule wherein 10% residents will have to give in writing that they want the liquor shop in their village shut,” he added.

“If the government can increase allowances of ministers, then why it is seeking people’s signature for closure of liquor vends. Now, the government will have to decide whether it wants to offer milk to the youths or alcohol,” Jaihind said.

The AAP state chief reached the conference carrying two bottles — one of Indian-made foreign liquor and one of countrymade liquor.

“We have decided to send country-made liquor to chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar and foreign liquor to deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala as he studied abroad,” Jaihind said.

“We are urging the leader of opposition, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, to oppose the decision tomorrow at the special session of Haryana Vidhan Sabha. If the government fails to pay heed to our demand, then we will collect bottles of liquor from across the state and gift those to Khattar and Dushyant,” he added.

Before assembly polls, Dushyant Chautala’s mother and Badhra MLA Naina Chautala had promised women that liquor vends at their villages will be closed by taking their consent.