BJP and Congress mount pressure over excise policy

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said the AAP government did not follow the suggestions of its own panel to “gain an unfair advantage” in the Punjab polls.

“AAP is now trying to deflect BJP’s questions on malpractices in the implementation of liquor policy. Manish (Sisodia) ji, you may be the world’s best education minister, but you should immediately convene a press conference and answer what were you doing in your capacity as excise minister? Is it not true that you ignored recommendations of the panel on retail and wholesale liquor business? On whose direction you did so?” Patra said.

The BJP also held meetings at Patparganj. At the event, Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta said, “Kejriwal promised he’ll not let single corrupt MLA in the Assembly, but today two tainted ministers, Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain are part of his cabinet.”

Meanwhile, the Congress has also decided to start a campaign against the excise policy. Delhi Congress chief Anil Kumar Chaudhary said the party will be holding panchayats in constituencies, demanding Sisodia’s resignation.

Chaudhary said the Delhi Congress vehemently objected to the Kejriwal government’s move to make Delhi “Nashe Ki Rajdhani”, after the new policy was implemented by holding protests. He said the party would again hold door-to-door campaigns.

This comes even as the Congress has accused the BJP for “using investigating agencies for political gains and toppling state governments”. “This is the problem, BJP has misused the investigating agencies that even genuine cases look politically motivated,” he said.