Liquor vend auction on Bhagat Singh’s martyrdom day

Liquor vend auction on Bhagat Singh’s martyrdom day
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, March 8
On one hand the whole state will be observing March 23 as the Martyrdom Day of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, while on other the authorities of the Punjab Excise And Taxation Department have selected the day to hold a statewide draw for the allotment of liquor vends.
According to the recently issued public notice, the excise and taxation commissioner, Punjab, has announced that the first draw of lots would be held on March 19 and the second draw after regrouping of the vends would be held on March 23.
The scheduled allotment of liquor vends on this day has created a flutter among social activists, thinkers and leaders of farmer unions, who have been terming it as a well planned move by the government to hurt popular sentiments.
“Delivering long speeches with the promise of promoting the ideology of martyrs, our political leaders would garland their statues on that day. And on the same day, bureaucrats are all set to hold a statewide allotment of liquor vends, which sounds unjustified,” rued general secretary of the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta) Sukdev Singh Kokri Kalan.
Expressing anguish, a social thinker Jagdish Ghai, an executive member of the Public Library here, said, “Opting for this sacred day for liquor vend allotment is a clear insult to the martyrs and we strongly condemn it.”
“Respecting the sanctity of the day and the feelings of the people attached with it, the government should change the day, otherwise it can create fresh controversy,” said a social activist Parkash Bansal.
“The allotment of liquor vends on a large scale throughout the state on the same day has upset us. We humbly urge the government to change the date,” said Rakesh Narula of the Bathinda Vikas Manch, a social organisation.
When the matter was brought to the notice of the joint commissioner, Excise and Taxation department, Punjab, HMS Rosha said, “We respect the public sentiments. As you have apprised us, we will surely have a departmental meeting tomorrow and if possible, try to change the date.”