Exercise restraint during protest against liquor shops: UP CM

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday appealed to people to not take law in their hands during protest against shifting of liquor vends from highways to populated areas.

The Chief Minister made the appeal while reviewing with police, excise and administrative officers some alleged incidents of outburst of people's anger during protest against shifting of liquor shops to populated areas following a Supreme Court order banning sale of alcohol near highways, an official spokesman said.

"He appealed to public to not take law in their own hands and said that the state government respect the public sentiment," the spokesperson said.

The Adityanath government also accused the previous governments of not adhering to the Supreme Court order.

The Chief Minister alleged the previous governments had not followed the orders of the Supreme Court and the High Court, and shifted liquor shops from highways to populated areas, which resulted in the "outburst" of people's anger.

The Chief Minister also said the government would ensure that the liquor shops follow the court orders.