SP MLC wants liquor ban in Ayodhya, Kashi; Min says no such plan

Lucknow: A demand by a Samajwadi Party MLC to ban liquor in Varanasi drew laughter from several members of the Vidhan Parishad, even as excise minister Nitin Agarwal said that there was no plan to implement any such ban.SP MLC Ashutosh Sinha said that in the light of numerous tourists and devotees visiting Kashi Vishwanath, the govt should implement a liquor ban in the city due to its religious nature. He gave the example of the recent day-long ban on sale of meat and liquor across the state on Jan 22 for the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. “If the govt can ban liquor for one day, why not implement a permanent ban. In fact, liquor should also be banned in Ayodhya,” he said.In response to his issue raised during question hour, the minister said that there was no liquor shop in a 1 km periphery around the Kashi Vishwanath temple.