In another move towards her long standing demand on liquor ban in specific places or ‘controlled liquor distribution policy’ as she calls it, BJP leader Uma Bharti will stop living at home or inside any building from November 7.
“I will move around Madhya Pradesh and stay out - may be in a tent, in a temporary hut, under a tree or likewise - from November 7, till the time a suitable liquor policy that ensures safety and security of women and girls, safe periphery to places of worship, educational institutes and hospitals and prevents daily wagers from spending all their earnings on liquor is in place,” Bharti said in a social media address on Friday.
She said that November 7 is the auspicious day of Dev Dipawali when Lord Kartik Swami achieved victory over demons. “Intoxication is a symbol of demonic character too that requires to be won over. I will commence my campaign from Amarkantak where Kartik Swami rested on the Dev Dipawali day,” Bharti said.
The former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh said that she would watch out for the next liquor policy of the state, which, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has assured her, would be drafted after detailed consultations. “I would start living at home only if I am sure that the policy would fulfill our long standing demands,” she said.
Bharti has been demanding immediate closure of liquor shops near educational institutions, hospitals, places of worship, those close to poor settlements and in places where common people have objected to them. She has also demanded a ban on ‘Ahaatas’ – the open drinking places linked to liquor shops.
The announcement on the latest move of the feisty BJP leader comes barely five days after she joined CM Chouhan in a launch programme of a de-addiction awareness campaign by the MP government on October 2. The government campaign will continue till November 30.
During the past two years, Bharti has been repeatedly threatening to launch a major movement by women in Madhya Pradesh against indiscriminate availability of liquor. However, after a lot of postponements due to COVID-19 and her own health issues, and religious tour commitments, a fresh campaign from October 2 was announced. But at the last minute, Bharti announced merging of the women’s rally with government awareness campaign launch programme, saying that the move by the Chouhan-led government shows his commitment on the issue.
However, now Bharti has decided to launch this new campaign, clearly saying that unless she does something to show her stubbornness on the issue, situations might not change.
‘Don’t want to contest 2024 LS polls from MP, UP’
Bharti made another interesting announcement during her social media address, saying that she did not want to contest 2024 Lok Sabha polls from Madhya Pradesh (or even Uttar Pradesh) and so her campaign should not be linked to her political goals.
“This is a totally non-political campaign. People often say that I am trying to find new political ground through this campaign, but I want to tell them that Assembly polls in MP were won in my leadership (in 2003) and I gave up the chief minister post on my own for the dignity of tricolour. I need not find a ground in this state. I have won from the Lok Sabha seats that I contested in MP (Khajuraho) and UP (Jhansi) and some big works were done in these constituencies consequently. So I think I will request the BJP leadership to allow me to contest from a third state and maybe that state will benefit too,” Bharti said.
