Letters to The EDITOR: Minimize the grant of licences to liquor shops

Minimize the grant of licences to liquor shops

The mushrooming of liquor shops and bars has become a cause for concern in our civilized society. According to the media report, at present there are 1,708 IMFL (Indian Made Foreign Liquor) shops and 863 bars in Assam, and the process is going on to grant licences to more than 400 liquor shops in the state. Sources said that in Guwahati, in some areas of the G.S. Road, there is a liquor shop after every 50 metres.

The increasing number of such shops may have a negative impact on students. Due to the availability of liquor shops in nearby places, the students at first start consuming alcohol for the thrill of it with their friends, but later on they get addicted to it. As a result, such types of bad habits may spoil the bright future of students and also give them the chance to become habitual drunkards in adulthood. No doubt, the government earns a huge amount of excise revenue from liquor shops and bars. But revenue collection should not be the only objective behind granting licences to a huge number of liquor shops and bars. The mushrooming of such shops in every nook and cranny of the state may pollute the peaceful atmosphere of our society. Since habitual drunkards create nuisances in public places and also indulge in domestic violence at home. Therefore, the government must look into the matter seriously and try to minimize the process of granting licences to liquor shops and bars by considering the serious health hazards of our new generation.

Rupak G. Duarah,

Rajahnagar, Guwahati-40.

Amidst the massive statewide eviction drive, many people have been made homeless. The government has, no doubt, taken this step to create a sustainable future by protecting wetlands and water bodies. The evicted lands are expected to contribute to the ecosystem and maintain biodiversity. But this sudden decision has left citizens traumatised. The senior citizens, along with young children, have to loiter around after seeing their shelter turned into ruins by bulldozers. So, through the column of your esteemed daily, I would like to draw the kind attention of the honourable Chief Minister of Assam to kindly look into the matter and provide those unfortunate families with some alternatives, or provide them with some monetary support.

Aranyani Borah,

Guwahati.

Parkash Singh Badal

Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch Parkash Singh Badal (95), a five-time chief minister (CM) of Punjab, is no more. He was not only the last surviving member of a political generation that saw Independence and survived the Emergency, but also the Akali stalwart who, as a politician, had dealt with each one of India’s prime ministers, from Jawaharlal Nehru to Narendra Modi. Interestingly, the five-time Punjab CM had the distinction of being the youngest CM in Punjab at the age of 43 (in 1970, heading a coalition government that did not complete its term) and also the oldest, as he was 89 (2012–2017) when he relinquished charge in 2017. He was MLA 11 times (the first time from Malout in 1957 as the Congress nominee), losing only twice. Badal had a unique record as the oldest candidate in the country to contest Vidhan Sabha elections in 2022 and lost to a first-time candidate from the Aam Aadmi Party.

Besides 1970, Badal was also the CM in 1977–80, 1997–2002, 2007–12, and 2012–2017. In 1977, he briefly joined Morarji Desai’s government as the agriculture minister at the Centre. Badal’s government’s love for farmers is well known. His government’s one key decision was introducing free electricity for agriculture, as a glaring example. Even Badal’s party broke off ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the farmers’ agitation against the Centre’s new farm laws in 2020. He also returned the Padma Vibhushan award he received in 2015. He bitterly opposed the idea of the Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal, meant to share river water with neighbouring Haryana, which has yet to become a reality due to Punjab’s continuing opposition. Though not successful, Badal had been part of the movement for a separate Punjabi-speaking state. Whatever the case, during the 10-year UPA government led by Dr. Manmohan Singh, he was accorded a great deal of respect despite belonging to an opposition party and alliance. Modi, too, never hesitated to bow to touch his feet in public. Actually, Badal was a statesman who was loved and respected by all. May his soul rest in peace.

Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee,

(bkchatterjee9@gmail.com.)