Women Panthers protests against proposed move of opening new liquor shops

Watsupptoday | Jammu

Perturbed over the renewed attempts of the Govt to open additional liquor shops in J&K particularly in Jammu region, the women wing of the Panthers Party held a massive protest at Jammu today. The protestors raised slogans against the J&K administration and BJP cautioning them to refrain from initiating any such exercise in Jammu region.
Speaking to media persons, Mrs. Manju Singh, General Secretary-JKNPP disclosed that Excise and Taxation Department has proposed the opening of 116 liquor shops in Jammu region and sought the approval of the Finance Department vide its letter dated 16-06-2020. �And though the approval has yet not been given but there are reports that the proposal is under active consideration of the govt. And if these liquor vends are allowed in Jammu region, it would only invite disaster in view of already frayed tempers amongst the people of Jammu especially the youth and women against the govt. The ever growing number of Toll Plazas has already sparked massive public outrage. There are already 220 liquor vends in Jammu out of the total 224 existing liquor shops operating as on date. The city of temples can�t be allowed to be converted into city of liquor vends and of Toll Plazas. The govt has to exercise due caution and restrain while taking policy decisions�, said Mrs. Manju Singh.
Mrs. Anita Choudhary, State Secretary-Mahila Panthers while condemning the new proposals mooted for giving fresh licenses to new liquor vends described the proposition as shocking and outrageous. Already there is a huge number of liquor shops, Bars besides illicit distillation being carried on various parts of J&K. Every day there are reports of bootlegging, illicit smuggling of liquor and open consumption of liquor without any restrictions which has caused immense damage to the new generation. The poor labourers have an easy access to the liquor vends which have ruined themselves and their families. Frequent reports of torture of their family members by the drunkards has become the order of the day. And the govt rather than framing a strict liquor policy is planning to open more of such poison shops. This is most condemnable and highly unacceptable, said the Mahila Panthers leader.
Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion included Mrs. Seema Mehra, Mrs. Kajal Devi, Mrs. Anju Bala besides others.