National News
Explained: Delhi Excise policy faulty or faulty implementation?
AAP government’s new excise policy 2021-22 that came into force on November 17 last year has drawn severe criticism from the opposition and the industry experts in the national capital for multiple reasons.
Under the new policy, the retail licences were given to private bidders for 849 vends across the city divided into 32 zones. Opposing the policy, the opposition has lodged complaint with the L-G as well as central agencies seeking a probe into it.
The allegations
Delhi LG Vinai Kumar Saxena has recommended a CBI probe based on the Delhi Chief Secretary’s July 8 report which has flagged “deliberate and gross procedural lapses to provide post tender undue benefits to liquor licensees for the year 2021-2022”.
The Chief Secretary report has also pointed out prima facie violations of GNCTD Act 1991, Transaction of Business Rules (ToBR)-1993, Delhi Excise Act-2009 and Delhi Excise Rules-2010.
As the Excise Department is headed by Manish Sisodia, he faces allegations of financial quid pro quo in executing major decisions around the excise policy which reportedly huge financial implications.
He also extended undue financial favours to the liquor licensees much after the tenders had been awarded and thus caused huge losses to the ex-chequer.
The Excise Department reportedly gave a waiver of Rs 144.36 crore to the licencees on the tendered licence fee citing pandemic as an excuse. The excise department under Sisodia revised the formula of calculation of rates of foreign liquor and removed the levy of import pass fee of Rs 50 per case on beer on in its November 8, 2021 order.
The AAP government is also accused of attempting to legalise “these illegal decisions” by getting the nod of cabinet as recently July 14 which is said to be in violation of laid down rules and procedures.
Aam Admi Party’s defence
In a press briefing shortly after LG recommended a CBI probe, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal termed the case “false” and said that BJP is afraid of AAP’s expansion.
“The whole case is fabricated. I have known Sisodia for the past 22 years. He is honest. When he became a minister the Delhi government schools were in a poor condition. He worked day and night to bring them to the level where a judge’s child and a rickshaw driver’s child sit together to study,” said CM Kejriwal.
Policy that led to liquor crisis
Delhi residents are facing the shortage of liquor of their choice as the capital city is witnessing shortage across various categories at many outlets in the city. Even some premium category whiskies are not available in below one litre quantity at various outlets.
On being asked about the reason behind such shortage, the outlet keepers have one word to say “supply chain problem”. Among many other reasons, one important factor causing shortage is the new policy which has led to the sharp decline in the number of wine shops being operated currently in the market.
“Only around 464 shops are in operation currently in the market whereas the city like Delhi must have around 850 outlets to serve the residents”, said an industry expert on condition of anonymity.
What Expert says
The industry expert says that policy was good, however on ground level, the implementation was not good. “I believe that the Excise policy was and is fundamentally good. It takes a different and progressive look at alcohol sale and consumption befitting a modern metropolis that Delhi is. However, I think that implementation on ground fell short. It was too slow, in patches and unable to break away from historical bureaucratic apathy towards trade. In its concept, the size of zones is too big”, Vinod Giri, Director General of the Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC) told IANS.
Giri said that the industry has repeatedly raised the matter of keeping zone sizes small to reduce financial stakes of licensees, improve loss bearing capacity if any, and prevent monopolies. “We also have suggested more simplicity and flexibility in operational issues such as license ownership changes. I am of view that with some tweaking the policy can deliver what it was meant to – positive dividend for all stakeholders”, Giri told IANS.
Opposition’s Claims
Union minister and New Delhi BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi on Friday alleged the violations by Delhi government in the Delhi liquor policy.
Addressing a press conference, Lekhi showed documents saying that they “exposed” discrepancies by the government in giving waivers to liquor firms.
Lekhi claimed, “firms were given a waiver of Rs 144.36 crore on 14 July 2022 without the Cabinet’s nod.”
She further claimed that in another instance, a company was returned its Rs 30 crore earnest deposit money without following the due procedure.
National News
Ugly Fight Breaks Out Between 2 Groups Of Women As They Hit Each Other With Sticks Over Playing Music In UP’s Baghpat
A dispute over a seemingly trivial matter escalated into a chaotic clash between two groups of women in Uttar Pradesh’s Doghat on Thursday.
As per reports, the altercation began over playing music but tensions in the area quickly intensified when two groups of women started thrashing each other with sticks and other objects.
A video of the incident, which has gone viral on social media, shows around eight to ten women involved in a fierce brawl on a busy street. Bystanders can be seen watching in shock, with some attempting to intervene but retreating due to the intensity of the fight.
Several women were injured in the confrontation, and the footage has sparked outrage on social media.
Reports suggest that local residents eventually managed to de-escalate the situation, but not before multiple women sustained injuries.
Doghat police have initiated an investigation based on the video. As per reports, they are currently examining the video footage, and appropriate action will be taken following the investigation.
UP: Two burnt alive in truck collision in Fatehpur
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a truck driver and his helper were burnt alive when two trucks collided and caught fire in the Hussainganj area of Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur district, police said on Thursday.
The incident occurred around midnight on Wednesday on the Fatehpur-Lucknow road, Additional SP Vijay Shankar Mishra said.
Vinay Shukla (35), the driver of one of the trucks, and his helper, Ramraj Yadav (23), were burnt alive in the blaze. The occupants of the other truck managed to jump out before the fire spread, Mishra added.
Both victims were residents of Kherwa village in the Shivratanganj police station area of Amethi district. Their bodies have been sent for postmortem, Mishra said.
National News
J&K Assembly: Scuffle Breaks Out After Engineer Rashid’s Brother Shows Article 370 Banner In House
Srinagar: The proceedings of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly were disrupted after a scuffle broke out in the House between National Conference and BJP MLAs.
According to reports, the House proceedings were briefly adjourned after Engineer Rashid’s brother, MLA Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh, displayed a banner about Article 370, which led to objections from BJP MLA Sunil Sharma.
Irfan Hafeez Lone displayed a banner on the restoration of Article 370 in the J&K Assembly. After a scuffle between Lone and BJP members, the House proceedings were adjourned for 15 minutes. BJP raised concerns over security, questioning how such actions were allowed.
Leader of the Opposition, Sunil Sharma, stated that under special status, some had built their own “palaces” and even cemeteries. This provoked anger from National Conference (NC) leaders. BJP members began chanting slogans in the House, while NC leaders also responded with their own slogans. The visuals of the incident have surfaced on the internet.
In the viral video, the lawmakers can be seen pushing each other on the floor of the house.
After the House resumed following the scuffle, several opposition MLAs causing disruption were physically removed by marshals and evicted from the Assembly.
Meanwhile, PDP moves a fresh resolution in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly seeking the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A. The BJP opposed the resolution demanding its withdrawal.
Amid uproar, the Jammu and Kashmir assembly has been adjourned till Friday. The UT assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution seeking a dialogue for “restoration of special status and constitutional guarantees” to the Jammu and Kashmir. The resolution was supported by all parties except the BJP.
National News
J&K: One Terrorist Killed During Encounter In Bandipora’s Kaitsan, Operation Underway
Bandipora (Jammu and Kashmir): Security forces have eliminated one terrorist in the ongoing Operation Kaitsan in Bandipora, the Army officials said on Wednesday.
According to Army officials, further operation is in progress.
“OP Kaitsan, Bandipora. One terrorist has been eliminated by the security forces in the ongoing Operation. Operation is in progress,” Indian Army’s Chinar Corps said on X.
Earlier on Tuesday, a joint operation was launched by the Indian Army, Jammu & Kashmir Police, and CRPF in the general area of Chuntawadi Kaitsan, Bandipora after an encounter broke out between Security Forces and terrorists.
“Based on specific intelligence input regarding the presence of terrorists in the general area of Kaitsan forest, a joint operation was launched by the Indian Army, Jammu & Kashmir Police, and CRPF in the general area of Chuntawadi Kaitsan, Bandipora. Contact was established and a firefight ensued. Operation is in progress,” Chinar Corps, Indian Army said on X.
One Terrorist Associate Apprehended
In another development on Tuesday, Jammu and Kashmir police along with 22RR and 92 BN of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) apprehended one terrorist associate identified as Ashiq Hussain Wani who is a resident of Tujar Shareef in J-K’s Sopore, said police.
On November 3, twelve people, including one woman, were injured in a grenade attack at the Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) and weekly market in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar on Sunday, police said.
On November 2, two terrorists were killed by security forces during an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district. The encounter broke out after security forces initiated an anti-terrorist operation in the Halkan Gali area.
On October 29, the security forces neutralised three terrorists in a high-stakes encounter in Akhnoor, Jammu, and Kashmir, following an attack on an Army convoy.
On October 20, a doctor and six construction workers were killed when terrorists attacked a tunnel construction site on the Srinagar-Leh national highway in the Ganderbal district.
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