New Delhi: The Delhi BJP on Sunday symbolically "sealed" a liquor store near a temple in Moti Nagar by installing a lock on the premises and urged that the Kejriwal administration close all "illegal" liquor vends in the national capital.


This comes only two days after the state unit of the BJP warned to lock liquor vends in residential areas, near schools, and holy sites if the Arvind Kejriwal administration did not close these stores within the next 48 hours, PTI reported.


Adesh Gupta, the Delhi unit president of the BJP, accused Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of "helping the liquor mafia" while speaking to the media in front of a liquor shop in west Delhi.


"I want to tell Kejriwal that he should shut all the liquor shops that he has opened to benefit liquor mafia immediately," he said, as quoted by PTI.


"If you will not take any action, the BJP workers and leaders would seal these shops situated near residential areas, religious places, schools," he warned.


According to the BJP, the business was "shut" since it was located near a temple.


Gupta also accused Kejriwal of breaking his vow to not allow new liquor stores in Delhi.


"Kejriwal ji, you had said seven years ago in Swaraj's book that no liquor shop will open, I want to ask you whether the views you wrote seven years ago have changed after coming to power?" he asked.


According to BJP officials, they have also pushed the local municipal authority to close similar stores.


Last year, the Kejriwal government announced a new excise policy, which went into effect in November, prompting the establishment of additional liquor shops.


The Delhi BJP, which controls the three civic bodies in the city's north, east, and south, has been vocal in its opposition to the programme, claiming that the liquor stores were opened in contravention of regulations.


Municipalities have also initiated a crackdown on illegally established liquor stores.


The city's liquor sector has been given over to private players under the new excise policy, which allows them to establish 849 big and luxurious vends in 32 zones with an area of at least 500 square metres.


Consumers will be able to stroll into such locations and select the alcohol brand of their choosing, just as they can in shopping malls.


Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani blasted the new excise policy on Friday, speaking at a virtual rally organised by the Delhi BJP, saying it was terrible that liquor vends were built near schools and holy institutions in Delhi.


(With PTI Inputs)