Goa: Cong, AAP slam Parrikar govt for not protecting liquor vends

The SC on March 31 banning liquor vends within 500 metres on national and state highways would affect some 2200-odd liquor outlets.

Panaji, Apr 5: The Congress and the AAP have separately accused the Manohar Parrikar-led BJP Government in Goa of 'laxity' in protecting liquor vends hit by the Supreme Court's decision to ban the sale of booze along highways.

The Goa Congress Legislature Party on Wednesday alleged that Parrikar is just 'wasting time as he is unwilling to help the affected liquor vendors'. On the other hand, the Aam Aadmi Party leader Elvis Gomes said that the party is 'gravely concerned over the laxity with which the state government is dealing with the alarming situation which has risen out of the Supreme Court ruling on liquor outlets along highways'.

"Why did Goa not present its case like Sikkim and Meghalaya did, and seek exemptions and special provisions for Goa?" Gomes asked.

The AAP has demanded that the state government should work towards getting state highways de-notified wherever legally feasible. Parrikar had on Tuesday said that in the wake of the ban, his government is considering approaching the apex court for 'clarifications' and possibly seek a dispensation for the tourist state.

"The government has now said that they will seek clarification on the Supreme Court order within 2-3 months. The state government should show necessary hurry to approach the apex court, rather than just sitting on the issue," CLP leader Chandrakant Kavlekar told reporters.

He alleged though Parrikar has assured to move the apex court, he has simultaneously asked the state Excise department to issue notices and close down the liquor outlets around the highways.

"...This shows the double standards of the chief minister," the Congress leader said, adding that the BJP-led government is not serious on the issue and is 'just pretending to help liquor vends'. Kavlekar said that the Congress party would extend its support to liquor vendors in case they launch an agitation on the issue.

Some 2200-odd liquor outlets are going to be affected by the apex court order. The SC on March 31 had modified its order banning liquor vends within 500 metres on national and state highways, reducing the distance to 220 metres in areas having a population of up to 20,000. However, a bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar, had made it clear that its December 15, 2016 order banning such vends within 500 metres of highways shall remain operative for areas other than specified in the latest order.

PTI