“From Monday, only government-run liquor stores to be allowed in Delhi,” states Manish Sisodia

New Delhi (30/07/22): Only government-run liquor shops will operate from Monday, August 1, till the time a new excise policy is put in place, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday said amid a row over the new excise duty with the Centre.

The decision means 468 private liquor shops will shut from Monday, creating a major crisis in the availability of liquor in the national capital. At a press conference, Sisodia stated, “I have instructed the chief secretary to make sure there is no turmoil during the transition phase.

“The Centre is using ED and CBI to warn their private players so that the new excise policy fails. They want to reduce liquor in Delhi and create a shortage,” Sisodia alleged while defending the new policy on liquor.

Sisodia also alleged that like Gujarat, the BJP wants to promote the sale of spurious, off-duty liquor by threatening Delhi’s shop-owners and officers.

“The Delhi government had to come out with a new excise policy. Before this policy, government shops used to sell liquor. Private shops also existed but they were given to relatives,” Sisodia added.