Tilak Nagar votes to shut ‘nuisance’ liquor shop during mohalla sabha

NEWDELHI: The Delhi government on Sunday held a referendum to shut a liquor vend in Tilak Nagar, west Delhi, wherein an overwhelming majority voted for closure of the shop as it was a ‘source of nuisance’.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, along with his deputy Manish Sisodia held a mohalla sabha or neighbourhood meeting in the area on Sunday, and said that in the future too such complaints would be addressed through such meetings.

Addressing a gathering later, Kejriwal said, “We have always been of the view that a decision, which directly impact a group of people, should be taken by them. There remain chances of the decision going wrong if taken by any officer or minister who is not getting affected by it.”

He said that he believed that it was for the first time that such a public meeting was being organised to deal with ‘nuisance’ happening around liquor vends.

All stakeholders, including residents of the area, the shop owners and government officials were present during the neighbourhood meeting to decide the fate of the liquor shop on Sunday.

Tilak Nagar MLA, Jarnail Singh, said that the shop was located in the middle of a residential neighbourhood — Anmol Vatika — in his constituency. It may now be shifted to a non-residential area of Tilak Nagar.

Singh said that he had been receiving complaints from people regarding nuisance being created and it was becoming tough for the residents, especially women, to pass through the area.

“I raised the matter with the CM and today (Sunday) the government sought a referendum from the public over the issue. Over 90% people, who attended the meeting, (except the shop owner) voted for the closure of the shop,” Singh said.