Liquor nuisance to be tackled through mohalla sabhas: CM

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said that complaints related to public nuisance caused by inebriated people will be addressed through 'mohalla sabha' in the areas of residents and the decision made by a majority of the residents on the issue would be binding on the government.

The Chief Minister, while attending a people's meet held at Tilak Nagar in West Delhi, said that any complain seeking closure of liquor shops would be discussed in these sabhas and even the shop owners would have the opportunity to present their case.

"I and (Deputy Chief Minister) Manish (Sisodia) have come here today as outsiders. We want to see how the basic nature of democracy works. A decision that directly affects a group of people should be made by them only.

"If an officer or a Minister takes a decision then there are chances of things going awry. There could be pressure on them or they could take a bribe. When decisions are made in closed rooms by those who are not affected by it, things may go wrong," Kejriwal told the gathering at Tilak Nagar.

Sisodia, who is also in charge of the Excise Department, told the people, "In a democracy, people make decisions… liquor per se is not a problem, but conflicts rising out of it is a problem. Many people kill themselves by drinking, but that is another issue," he said at the meeting.

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Tilak Nagar Jarnail Singh said, "About 90 per cent of the people who attended the 'mohalla sabha' today, were in favour of closure of the liquor shop in the locality where it was held. The owner, who attended the meeting, said it should not be closed."

Participants at the meeting also highlighted about eve-teasing, harassment on girls to the Chief Minister and Deputy CM. They also complaint that liquor shops were the main reason behind these incidents.