Foundation demands crackdown on illegal liquor sales in Amgaon

The Bharatiya Janakalyan Foundation has demanded strict action against alleged illegal liquor sales in the Amgaon municipal council area and several villages of the taluka. The foundation has asked that no new liquor licences be granted within the limits of the Amgaon municipal council. It has also demanded a legal review of cases filed against citizens who held a democratic protest demanding prohibition in Kidangipar, and the withdrawal of cases found to warrant it.

A memorandum on the matter was submitted to the Maharashtra chief minister, who also holds the home portfolio. The memorandum was routed through the tahsildar, the Amgaon tahsil office and the state excise department, Gondia.

The memorandum was submitted under the leadership of the foundation's president, Prof. Eng. Subhash Akare, and general secretary Yashwant Mankar. The foundation claimed in the memorandum that illegal liquor sales in the Amgaon municipal council limits and surrounding villages are becoming a serious problem. Among those present on the occasion were Dhaniram Matale, Jaywanta Matale, Rajendra Mendhe, Shweta Agrawal, Rani Kalsarpe, Nilu Phule, Sanju Deshkar, Vijay Kore, Ashok Bokade, Akash Meshram, Santosh Kumar Surte, Pinkesh Shende, Diksha Chavan, Sunita Matale, Ghanshyam Mendhe, Harichand Ukre, Anandrao Nandagawali, Bhalchand Ukre and Shashi Hattimare.

The memorandum names Bangaon, Kidangipar, Malhi, Padampur, Kumbhartoli, Birsi, Risama and other nearby villages where illegal liquor sales are alleged to be taking place. The foundation says liquor sales in these villages are harming the social atmosphere. Easy availability of liquor risks increasing addiction among youth, which is affecting the economic condition and social wellbeing of families, according to the foundation.

Citizens in Kidangipar had held a democratic and peaceful protest demanding prohibition. The memorandum states that cases were filed against some citizens during this protest. The citizens who demanded prohibition had launched the protest to draw the administration's attention to a social problem in their area. The foundation has therefore demanded a fair and legal review of these cases. It has asked that the government examine the purpose of the protest, what happened during it, and the legal aspects of the related cases, and decide to withdraw cases found to merit withdrawal.