Rage against Liquor in Rajasthan

Kachhbali of Udaipur district in Rajasthan became a pioneer village after voting to close its only liquor shop, last month. 67% 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 risen to demand closure of liquor shops in their places. Recently, women barged forcefully into a liquor shop in Gangapur City of Sawai Madhopur district. They ransacked the shop and set the boxes of wine afire.
November last year, 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 lose his life on 3 November last year, on 33rd day of his hunger strike. At that time, everybody saw the criminal insensitiveness 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 the deceased 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 the former CM Ashok Gehlot when demanded a complete ban on liquor in the state, as he was known as a Gandhian CM. 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. 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 need to be organised. But it is now obvious that more and more people are joining hands against the ‘mother of evils.’
The governments should understand the mindset of people and come forward to end the monster of liquor which has consumed innumerable lives and ransacked a number of families. A complete ban on liquor within the entire territories of India is the need of the hour.
[The writer is Media Secretary, JIH Rajasthan]