Centre refuses Punjab Government’s request to allow sale of liquor in state

The Government of India has refused Punjab government’s request to allow the sale of liquor in the state. The Centre dashed the hope of Punjab government to generate revenue from the sale of liquor.

As per the report, Raveen Thukral, Media Advisor to Punjab Chief Minister, stated that the Centre had turned down the request of CM Captain Amarinder Singh, which he had made to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, to allow the sale of liquor.

Captain Amarinder Singh, while talking to a news channel, said that “No sale of liquor means a loss of Rs 6,200 crore for the state." While pointing to a critical situation of the state, the Chief Minister has sought the permission of the Centre to allow the sale of liquor, in a phased manner, to mop up the VAT and Excise revenue.

The Government of India should allow the state to make a decision to allow the sale of liquor in certain areas in a phased manner with strict social distancing measures to prevent coronavirus,” he had said.

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Captain Amarinder Singh had also said that it would help the state immensely in its efforts to scale up the relief and health care measures to combat COVID-19 and meet some of its committed liabilities and other day-to-day expenses.

-PTC News