Anti-liquor body stages dharna before Excise Minister’s house

Bhubaneswar: Protesting against the renewal notice of liquor license, the Milita Odisha Nisha Nibarana Abhijan staged an indefinite dharna in front of the residence of Excise Minister Damodar Rout today demanding cancellation of the same.

They alleged that the liquor license renewal notice for the year 2017-18 has been published in English language and only provided at Tehsil offices. And as only three days have been provided to submit objections, people were deprived of giving their suggestions. Therefore cancellation of the notice and republishing it in Odia language was demanded.

President of Milita Odisha Nisha Nibarana Abhijan Padmacharan Nayak, Secretary Ramakant Mandal along with various other members participated in the dharna. However, police forcefully dispersed the people sitting on dharna and also detained few of them.

Talking to media persons, Mandal said, “We staged a peaceful dharna before the house of Excise Minister Damodar Rout protesting on an excise policy made in a hurry. We had got information that on February 17 and 18 notices were sent to various Tehsil offices, but people were not able to submit their objections on it. Therefore we are demanding that the notice should be published again and one month time should be given to people to submit their objections.”