New Delhi: Defending the Maharashtra government’s decision to allow the sale of wine at supermarkets and walk-in shops in the state, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday trained his guns on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleging the former regime planned to make a policy of giving home delivery of liquor online.
“Fadnavis government planned to make a policy of giving home delivery of liquor online, what was that? BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya said that liquor is medicine and drink it in small quantities” he said, ANI report.
The Shiv Sena leader had earlier on Friday said those opposing this decision are anti-farmer.
“I do not know whether wine is considered liquor but it is made from farm produce. With its sale, farmers could earn more. Those who are opposing it are in fact anti-farmer,” he told reporters, PTI reported.
Asserting the “critics of this decision should understand the economics behind it”, Raut said: “Is there a liquor ban in the country? Wine is produced from a range of fruits such as grapes, guava, chikoo etc.”
“It will give farmers higher returns and help in elevating their economic status,” he added.
The Rajya Sabha MP further said the BJP-led government at the Centre must also take such decisions “courageously” to help the farmers.
Earlier on Thursday, the Maharashtra cabinet allowed the supermarkets and shops to sell wine with some conditions.
The Maharashtra government had on Thursday said the supermarkets and shops measuring 1,000 square feet and above can sell wine by paying a licence fee and following all liquor sale norms in place, including a minimum distance from schools and places of worship, as well as local prohibition laws.