Liquor ban a hot poll issue in Chandrapur, Yavatmal

Chandrapur/Yavatmal: Prohibition is a major issue for a large number of voters in Chandrapur and Yavatmal-Washim seats. Liquor has been banned in Chandrapur district while there is a strong demand for the same in Yavatmal district. The issue in Chandrapur district is ineffective implementation of the ban.
The women attached to anti-liquor movement in Chandrapur are facing a dilemma over whom they should side with in forthcoming election.

Anti-liquor activists from Chandrapur and Yavatmal district are going to hold a meeting in the next few days to discuss this. The candidate who would promise liquor ban in Yavatmal district is likely win favour of women in this seat.

BJP had announced liquor ban in Chandrapur but the state government failed to implement it properly. On the other hand, Congress leaders have time and again opposed the ban. Activists are upset no measures were taken to undertake awareness towards de-addiction during five years. While state government neglected the issue, they are also irked that Hansraj Ahir, the sitting MP and union minister of state, and Chandrashekhar Bawankule, the state excise minister, did not hold a single meeting on this issue.

Sources claimed liquor activists are also upset over the choice of candidate by Congress. Suresh Dhanorkar is strongly against the liquor ban and had repeatedly conveyed this to Shiv Sena leaders.

“We women are extremely upset that neither parties have done anything concrete towards liquor issue in Chandrapur or Yavatmal,” said Paromita Goswami, leader of anti-liquor movement in Chandrapur district.

BJP leadership is, however, confident of gaining favour from women for their decision to ban liquor in Chandrapur. “Women in district have benefited from liquor ban. There is steep decline in instances of domestic violence, crime rate and accidents,” said BJP district president Harish Sharma.

Congress, however, hopes to gain from the anguish of the women following failure of prohibition and rise in sale of spurious liquor and drugs.

“Prohibition has failed completely and liquor ban is only in name in Chandrapur,” said Congress district president, Subhash Dhote adding that his party will gain from this failure.

Yavatmal is a tribal dominated district with high rate of farmers’ suicide.

Consumption of liquor is thought to be a major cause for pushing debt-ridden farmers to end their life. Swamini Daru Bandhi Samiti was formed under the leadership of Mahesh Pawar of Ghatanji over four years ago. Its main demand is total ban on manufacturing, sale and consumption of liquor in the district.

“We have met the people’s representatives and briefed them of the demands and apprised them of its importance. None has taken any positive initiative to meet the demand so far,” said Pawar.

Recently, Swamini organized a rally in Yavatmal led by Medha Patkar and Goswami. The leaders asked people to vote only for those who support the demand for total ban on liquor.

“Local MP Bhavana Gawali took us to her party chief Uddhav Thackeray but in vain. Finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar was initially positive towards our demand but under pressure of liquor lobby and mafias he has changed his stand,” said Pawar.

“We will oppose the Congress candidate from Chandrapur as he is with liquor business,” Pawar said, “former minister Shivajirao Moghe publicly supported our demands and he has promised a ban on liquor if his party is voted to power. Congress candidate in Yavatmal Manikrao Thakre said he would support the liquor ban in the district.”