No more liquor shops on national highways : BJP, Congress
One could never forget the petrifying incident 2019 Hyderabad gang rape case. Since then the government has promised to make some amendments in the Indian judiciary system in order to make the laws stringent. You would have heard of many cases related to drink and drive cases on national highways every now and then. According to Ministry of Road Transport & Highways 14071 cases of road accidents were reported due to drunken driving on national highways.
According to the government and Congress they have made the following move in that direction only. Congress and BJP demanded that the state government close down permit rooms, belt shops and bars on highways and main thoroughfares immediately. The parties said allowing liquor consumption on highways is leading to sexual assaults on women.
Earlier in 2016 the Supreme Court had banned liquor shops within 500 metres of the national and state highways but later in 2017 it clarified it’s order that the ban on sale of alcohol within 500 meters of state and national highways does not apply within city limits, granting relief to the liquor and hospitality industry.
This move will enabled the liquor vendors, which fall under the city limits but operate within 500 meters of a highway, to open shutters and apply for license renewal and in 2018 almost 70% of the national and state highways across the country have been exempted from the Supreme Court’s order banning liquor shops within 500 metres of the stretches.
Recently BJP leader DK Aruna said she would sit on a fast at Indira Park on December 11 and 12 in protest against the growing attacks on women and thriving liquor market on highways.
