Face2News/Chandigarh
Paramjit Singh Kainth, Vice President of BJP Scheduled Caste Morcha Punjab, has strongly opposed the opening of a liquor vend near the Scheduled Caste settlement in village Dandrala Dhindsa (Nabha) by sending a detailed letter to Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Bhagwant Singh Mann and Excise and Taxation Minister Mr. Harpal Singh Cheema regarding the issue.
Bjp leader Kainth said that it is highly unfortunate that, on one hand, the Aam Aadmi Party government led by Bhagwant Singh Mann claims to make Punjab drug-free and makes tall promises regarding Dalit welfare, while on the other hand, it is weakening the social fabric by opening liquor vends near Dalit settlements and residential areas.
He said that the Gram Panchayat of village Dandrala Dhindsa has already passed a unanimous resolution against the liquor vend, and the villagers have been holding an indefinite peaceful protest for the past several days. Despite this, instead of listening to the voice of the people, the government is giving priority to excise revenue and the interests of liquor contractors.
BJP leader Paramjit Singh Kainth said that the Punjab Government should answer whether the future of Dalit children, youth, and women is less important than revenue generated from liquor sales. He said that opening liquor vends near Scheduled Caste settlements is against the principles of social justice and constitutional values.
He alleged that the Bhagwant Mann government is ignoring the sentiments of the Dalit community. Continuing the liquor vend despite the unanimous resolution of the village panchayat and public opposition reflects the government’s anti-Dalit mindset.
Kainth demanded that the approval granted for the liquor vend opened near the Dalit settlement in village Dandrala Dhindsa be cancelled immediately, that the vend be shifted to another suitable location, and that a clear policy be framed to prohibit the opening of liquor vends near Dalit settlements, schools, religious places, and residential areas in the future.
He warned that if the Punjab Government does not respect the sentiments of the people, this struggle will not remain confined to Dandrala Dhindsa alone, but will take the form of a major mass movement across Punjab led by the Dalit community and the BJP Scheduled Caste Morcha.
He said that the BJP Scheduled Caste Morcha Punjab will fight every democratic battle to protect the dignity, safety, and future of the Dalit community and will not accept, at any cost, any policy that allows liquor vends to be opened near Dalit settlements.