The exercise of harnessing tribal votes
Raipur. Chhattisgarh’s Excise Minister Kawasi Lakhma said that liquor ban rules will be relaxed in Bastar, a tribal-dominated area. It will be decided by sitting with the Panchayat. CM Bhupesh Baghel has announced prohibition in the state.
Liquor ban has become a political issue in Chhattisgarh. The exercise to implement complete prohibition in the state is going on. But due to many political and economic and social reasons, obstacles are also coming to the fore. Liquor ban will not be implemented in Bastar, the tribal-dominated area of the state. State Excise Minister Kawasi Lakhma said on Thursday that the prohibition rules in the tribal-dominated Bastar region would be different from the rest of the state and the decision in this regard would be taken by the panchayat.
Talking to media persons in Raipur on Thursday, the minister said that the people of Bastar and their way of worship are different and many of their rituals during worship cannot be performed without the use or consumption of alcohol. He said, “Therefore, the rules of liquor ban will be different for Bastar region and the question of prohibition does not arise there.” He said that the population of the area is tribal dominated and the panchayat there will take a decision in this regard.
Lakhma told that Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had announced prohibition in the assembly. Beyond politics, the welfare of Chhattisgarh is in the heart of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. He has proposed to set up a committee consisting of one or two members from all political parties. He said that BJP and Janata Congress Chhattisgarh have not yet proposed any name from their parties, while BSP has given name for the committee but party leaders did not turn up for the meeting. All the members of the committee visited Delhi on Wednesday and later visited Gujarat, he said, adding that they would also visit Mizoram after the budget session of the assembly. Based on the recommendations of the committee, the government will take a decision in the interest of the people. Making a political attack, the minister said that BJP only lies and does politics for votes.
