Stop Issuing Bar Licenses: BJP

THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS | VOL 35 | ISSUE 21 | 9 DEC 2011

Stop Issuing Bar Licenses: BJP

The Mahila Morcha of Bharatiya Janata Party has sent a letter to the Lieutenant Governor protesting indiscriminate issuance of bar licences in the Islands.

Anusia Devi, State President, Mahila Morcha wrote to the the Lt Governor, The Chief Secretary and the Dy Commissioner (SA), wherein she has stated that very often the people of these Islands go through the news of accidents due to alcoholism. People, especially the married womenfolk are the sufferers with many families becoming destitute and losing happiness when their earning members or any other member becomes alcoholic. Local woman and media like Echo of India, Andaman Sheekha, Andaman Chronicle and The Light of Andamans etc have already raised this issue but the Administration is still going on issuing fresh bar licenses. This will not be out of point to mention here that the local media have written that these Islands may be called a bar city and the Party join hands with all such media personnel and affected families of these islands who are against alcoholism in these Islands.

As per the information, about 30 to 35% of all mortalities in GB Pant Hospital are due to alcohol consumption and its complications and about 50% of all mortalities in these Islands are due to alcohol. Some Bars running in residential and market areas also affect the residents of the area and people visiting market places. Very recently a local news paper had brought the uneasiness of the public in the market place, on its front page. In many cases, the women folk are disturbed and unable to come out of their houses. There is no check on either issuing licenses or renewals and as a result, bars are mushrooming in every nook and corner of the Islands.

To save the valuable lives, earnings of poor people, peaceful life and security to women and children folks the Party demands to stop issuing of any further bar licenses. The Party at the same time demands that renewal of bar license may be stopped except in the case of star hotels and that too with fixing limit of alcohol to be served to the consumers. Anusia Devi concludes that now the Administration should think whether it wants to make these Islands as Bar Cities and a Union Territory of high mortality due to alcoholism or wants to make it healthy, wealthy and beautiful Islands as it was earlier. R Mohan, State President, while approving the letter of complaint and demand signed by Anusia Devi, has told that this demand will annoy many bureaucrats and to satisfy the vested interests of such bureaucrats, no political parties has come forward with the aforesaid demand so far. But in the interest of the people of these isles and also to give the islands a free and fair society, the Party has taken this strong step. The release also asserts that BJP is not working here only to issue condolences, declaring it a self-made number one political party of A&N Islands. It also said that the party will never force any body to attend their meetings and dharnas.