New Delhi, March 4: The decision to keep liquor shops open during Holi has sparked a political uproar in the capital. While many parts of the country impose restrictions on alcohol sales during the festival, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has expressed strong objections to this directive.
Party leaders have labeled it the beginning of a “real liquor scam” and have leveled accusations against the government.
Manish Sisodia, the party’s Punjab in-charge and former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, issued a statement claiming that a genuine liquor scandal has now commenced in Delhi. He argues that allowing liquor shops to operate during a major festival like Holi contradicts the spirit of the celebration and gives the government a free pass to earn millions.
He questioned whether officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) would dare to investigate or raise questions about this matter. Sisodia pointed out that when AAP leaders faced action over the previous liquor policy, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) invoked moral grounds, yet they are now adopting different standards within their own government.
Delhi Pradesh President Saurabh Bhardwaj also launched a scathing attack on the BJP. Sharing the government’s order on the social media platform X, he criticized the government for allowing liquor shops to remain open during Holi while branding itself as Hindu nationalist.
Bhardwaj accused the BJP of attempting to tarnish AAP’s reputation over the liquor policy and filing false cases against them. He noted that now that they are in power in Delhi, their “true values” are becoming evident.
He further stated that liquor shops were also kept open during significant occasions like Chhath Mahaparv and Ravidas Jayanti. He questioned the impact of unrestricted alcohol sales during festivals on law and order and women’s safety. Shouldn’t the government prioritize social harmony and safety during such events?
So far, the BJP has not provided a detailed response to this issue. However, the political corridors are buzzing with debate, reigniting tensions in the capital’s political landscape ahead of Holi.
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