The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has accused the Uttar Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, of promoting alcohol consumption by allowing a “buy one, get one free” liquor scheme. The BJP, which governs the state, has not yet responded to these claims.
Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj, in a press conference, questioned why no action had been taken against liquor shops reportedly offering free bottles of alcohol.
“We are seeing many videos on social media showing long lines outside liquor shops in Uttar Pradesh. This seems like a plan to make people addicted to alcohol. I want to ask CM Yogi Adityanath why these shops have not faced bulldozer action,” Bharadwaj said.
Former Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj questioned whether the BJP’s central leadership had approved the “buy one, get one free” liquor scheme in Uttar Pradesh.
“Did CM Yogi introduce this scheme after consulting the BJP leadership? If not, why is the central BJP leadership silent on this?” he asked.
AAP also criticized the UP government in a post on X, saying, “A river of liquor is flowing in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh. In Noida, liquor shops are giving a free bottle with every purchase. Do the BJP and Congress not see any scam or irregularity in this? Will the BJP-led central government order a CBI-ED investigation into this?”
Why are shops offering ‘Buy One, Get One’
Liquor shops are offering discounts and deals to clear their stock before Uttar Pradesh’s new excise policy starts on April 1. Unlike the past six years, when liquor shop licenses were simply renewed, UP has introduced an e-lottery system this time, allowing new vendors to enter the business.
The state has also introduced composite shops, where both beer and IMFL (Indian Made Foreign Liquor) will be sold together, leading to the merging of some existing liquor shops.
Due to these changes, shop owners are rushing to sell their stock before March 31, as any unsold liquor after this date will be seized by excise teams. To avoid losses, many liquor shops have reduced prices and introduced offers like “buy one, get one free,” though the discounts vary in different areas.
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