Maharashtra Muslim legislators want 'dry day' on Eid-e-Milad

Nagpur (Maharashtra), Dec 18: Muslim legislators from Maharashtra on Friday submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking a 'dry day' (no liquor sales) on December 24, which will be celebrated as Prophet Mohammed's birthday.

"We have urged the chief minister to consider the demand on the lines of a similar dry day which is declared for Gandhi Jayanti and also Mahavir Jayanti every year," said senior Congress leader and former minister M. Naseem Khan who led the delegation here.

He was accompanied by Samajwadi Party state president Abu Asim Azmi and Leader of Opposition in the assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil.

He said Fadnavis gave "a very positive response" to his proposal and assured he would consult the concerned departments before announcing a decision in the next few days.

"Everybody knows that Prophet Mohammed had spoken about the ills of alcohol fourteen centuries ago and it would be appropriate for the state government to honour Muslim sentiments by declaring his birthday as a 'dry day' in the state," Khan said after the meeting.

If the proposal is approved, then this year Eid-e-Milad un-Nabi -- which falls a day before Christmas -- could be a no-alcohol day in the state with a ban on sale of liquor in wine shops, bars and restaurants.

IANS