Gelhot to end pub culture; lands in controversy

Jaipur, Jan 29: A day after he said that girls and boys should not be allowed to drink together, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Ghelot now takes a U-turn. He now says that he was misquoted by the media. He said that drinking will lead to rape and added that his words should not be connected with recent Mangalore pub attack.

Gehlot said on Wednesday, Jan 28 that he wanted to end the 'liquor culture' in the state, for which he blamed the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. He told to media that liquor culture harmed the social and cultural values and would not promote such a culture.

"Every street and every city has big liquor shops with big signboards and there are shops close to schools and religious places. The previous BJP government had pushed youth towards pub culture and boys and girls roaming round in malls holding hands. I want to end this culture." he said.

Gehlot said the government decision on Tuesday, Jan 27 to shut down 800 liquor shops in urban areas was a move in this direction. He blamed the Vasundhara Raje govenment for encouraging such culture by allowing huge hoardings and bills of liquor companies and most of them could be seen hanging in streets statewide.

He added that his government would curb such ad campaigns and keep the young generation away from liquor culture. The new Congress government have so far shut down 156 liquor shop and is running a statewide campaign against illicit liquor. The state Cabinet had earlier approved the closure of 800 Indian-made foreign liquor shops in the city limits in some parts of the state.

OneIndia News (With inputs from Agencies)