Liquor in GIFT City: Congress, AAP slam Gujarat's BJP govt. over decision
The Hindu
BJP & Congress clash over Gujarat govt's decision to allow liquor in GIFT City, lifting State's strict prohibition policy.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Opposition Congress on Saturday clashed over the Gujarat government's decision a day earlier to allow liquor in GIFT City, which partially overturned the State's strict prohibition policy.
The State government, on Friday, lifted the ban on liquor in the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) to provide a "global ecosystem".
While the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party said it was an unfortunate decision that would ruin the youth, the BJP said it would provide proper environment for the development of business in the region.
"This is a very unfortunate decision. The BJP government wants to lift prohibition in the state and they have started it with GIFT city. Tomorrow they will say they want to lift the liquor ban at the Statue of Unity (in Kevadia) and Tent City of Dhordo in Kutch to attract tourists as well as the Surat Diamond Bourse," Leader of Opposition Amit Chavda said.
"This will ruin the youth. Those who drink and come out of GIFT City will cause accidents and may harm our women. Do they (government) think lifting the liquor ban will attract investment," he questioned.
Congress MLA Ganiben Thakor said the decision must be withdrawn immediately in order to maintain law and order, the dignity of women, adding that people will go to GIFT City to drink instead of going outside Gujarat.
Umesh Makwana, the AAP MLA from Botad, wrote to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel seeking the withdrawal of the decision to lift prohibition in GIFT City.
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