Opposition leader in legislative council Ambadas Danve slams state govt over ‘plan’ to issue new liquor shop licenses in Maharashtra | Mumbai News

Mumbai: Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra legislative council Ambadas Danve on Tuesday claimed that the state government was planning to issue 328 new liquor shop licences which would only benefit those who are close to the ruling alliance. “The government is pushing this decision in the name of increasing revenue. But the way the planning has been done, it appears that licences will be distributed to people close to MLAs of Mahayuti alliance,” Danve told reporters at the legislature complex, where the monsoon session is underway.It would also lead to a rise in liquor consumption and prove harmful to society, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said. “With more liquor shops, consumption will go up and it will destroy many families. This will damage the state’s reputation,” he said.Danve also recalled that when the government tried to take a similar decision in 1972, socialist leader Mrinal Gore had opposed it.Last week, NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad had claimed that the BJP-led Mahayuti government was planning to issue new liquor shop licences to cope with the financial burden of schemes like Ladki Bahin Yojana, under which eligible women receive monthly aid of Rs 1,500.Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar stated that the government had made a rule that no new licences for liquor shops will be given without taking the legislature into confidence.Danve, meanwhile, also accused a Shiv Sena leader from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar of owning 12 liquor shops. “On the one hand, the government launches the Ladki Bahin scheme, and on the other hand, it is expanding liquor outlets. We will oppose this both in the House and on the streets,” he said.Talking about the resumption of operations at the Akashwani MLA hostel canteen here, Danve questioned the administration’s logic. “The caterer’s licence had lapsed years ago, yet the same company continued to operate the canteen. Now it has resumed operating. What was the point of suspending it for a few days then?” he asked.After Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad slapped a canteen employee for serving ‘stale food’ last week, the Food and Drug Administration suspended the canteen’s licence. On deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, who is also Shiv Sena president, reportedly reprimanding his party’s MLAs and ministers for their behaviour bringing bad publicity to the party, Danve said, “These people are thick-skinned. You will see no change in their behaviour.”He also questioned Shinde’s role as then urban development minister when Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd won the contract for the Thane-Ghodbunder-Bhayander road and tunnel project. The contract was scrapped in May after the L&T, which had been disqualified, moved the Supreme Court.