Is the new excise policy right or wrong? Delhi BJP will conduct an opinion poll on March 4, will take suggestions from 10 lakh people

Whether the New Excise Policy of the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi is correct or not will now be decided by the referendum. Delhi BJP President Adesh Gupta on Monday said that his party will hold a plebiscite in Delhi on March 4 on the new excise policy of the Kejriwal government, in which the opinion of 10 lakh people will be taken.

Adesh Gupta alleged that the new excise policy of the AAP government is making the youth directionless by opening 850 liquor contracts in the entire city and encouraging liquor. He claimed that women are also feeling insecure because of the crowd near liquor vends.

The BJP leader said that four suggestion boxes will be kept in each of the 280 wards of Delhi to know the opinion of the people. Party leaders said that these suggestion boxes will have questionnaires, through which people's opinions will be taken on excise policy, the opening of liquor contracts near schools and temples, and other aspects.

It is worth noting that under the New Excise Policy of the Delhi government implemented in November 2020, the capital has been divided into 32 zones, in which licenses have been given to open 849 liquor shops through open tenders.

Under the new excise policy, out of a total of 849 licensed liquor contracts, 564 shops have started operating in the city so far. According to the policy, each ward of a zone can have three-four liquor shops.

Delhi BJP has been opposing it since the implementation of the new excise policy. The three BJP-ruled municipal corporations recently started sealing these liquor shops in non-conforming areas over alleged violation of norms of the Delhi Master Plan. Sources said that around 30 such shops were sealed, while notices were issued to many others.