Declare June 26 as dry day: Residents

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Mandi Ahmedgarh, June 25

Appreciating the administration’s move to observe June 26 as International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, residents of the town and surrounding localities have demanded that June 26 be declared as a dry day in the state.

Maintaining that owners of almost all business organisations and service providers were made to follow certain rules and regulations regarding the opening and closing of their organisations, residents said the owners of liquor vends rarely followed these regulations, causing trouble to the residents.

Office-bearers and activists of several social, religious and political organisations of the area led by Ashok Verma said liquor vends opened early in the morning and continued working till late at night.

“We were shocked to see that a liquor vend situated on the outskirts of the town had started supplying liquor, while the gate of the shrine where we were going to pay obeisance was yet to be opened,” Ashok said, accusing Excise and Taxation Department officials of shielding violators.

Residents said contrary to the instructions of the department, contractors had established unauthorised outlets at petty shops, restaurants and roadside dhabas.

Instead of selling designated brands in their own area, contractors were trying to distribute liquor of a particular brand in each others’ area.

Justifying the demand raised by residents, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders led by legislator Iqbal Singh Jhoondan and Surjit Gogna said the issue had already been taken with the authorities concerned.

A delegation led by Lalit Garg had met Deputy Commissioner, Sangrur, Arashdeep Singh Thind and demanded that June 26 be declared as a dry day by the district administration for the welfare of people. The Deputy Commissioner had also advised the Excise Department officials to ensure that no liquor vendors violated regulations. — TNS