BJP’s Uma Bharti to stay in temple, demands ‘stringent’ liquor policy in MP

PTI | | Posted Lingamgunta Nirmitha Rao

Ahead of the Madhya Pradesh government’s likely announcement of a new liquor policy, BJP veteran Uma Bharti on Saturday reached a temple here where she would stay put till January 31 demanding the policy be made more stringent. Bharti has been demanding appropriate amendments in liquor policy, which the state government releases every year, and incorporating more controls to promote de-addiction.Also Read | Joshimath sinking: Uma Bharti says she warned of ‘irreversible loss’ years ago; ‘Vikas aur vinash…’On Saturday afternoon, Bharti reached a temple located near a liquor shop in Ayodhya Nagar trisection and announced she will stay there till January 31 awaiting the liquor policy announcement. Bharti had earlier opposed the wine shop located near the temple. The state government has not announced a date but a new liquor policy is generally announced in January end.The former Union miner told reporters she had expressed a desire to tour various spots in Madhya Pradesh last November but the visit could not materialise for the lack of arrangements for her staff including security personnel.Also Read | ‘Doesn’t hold patents on Ram, Hanuman’: Uma Bharti’s stinging remark on BJP“I have never demanded absolute prohibition. I said I would implement a total prohibition if it is in my control. I have full faith in Shivraj ji (MP Chief Miner Shivraj Singh Chouhan). I will wait for the decision about the liquor policy on January 31,” she said. The former chief miner said she didn’t want the opposition Congress to benefit from her stand.“If a controlled liquor policy, as I had told (to the BJP government), is implemented, the BJP will repeat its record victory like 2003,” she said. The BJP had won 165 seats in the 230-member Assembly in the 2003 polls decimating Congress, which was in power at that time, to 58 seats. After that election, Bharti became the chief miner. She resigned after eight months. The Assembly elections in MP are due in December this year.

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