Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has demanded a CBI inquiry into the controversial Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 of the Arvind Kejriwal government following a report by the Chief Secretary. The report was presented by the Chief Secretary on July 8, 2022. It has been mentioned in this report that the GNCTD Act 1991, Transaction of Business Rules (TOBR) 1993, Delhi Excise Act 2009 and Delhi Excise Rules 2010 have been deliberately violated to give post tender wrongful benefits to the liquor licensees. Regarding this matter, Arvind Kejriwal himself came out and clarified that efforts are being made to implicate Manish Sisodia.
Sisodia also feared to be trapped
If this report is to be believed, it was told that this is mainly a sign of financial quid pro quo by top level political. It was finalized by Manish Sisodia, Minister in charge of Excise Department. Let us tell you that the meaning of inancial Quid Pro Quo in politics is related to a transaction or other benefit to benefit each other. It has been said in the report that even after the tenders were awarded, undue financial assistance was given to the liquor licensees, causing huge loss to the exchequer. This report of the Chief Secretary is in accordance with Rule 57 of TOBR 1993. It has been sent to both the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister.
Kejriwal was seen saving Sisodia
Chief Minister Kejriwal himself came to protect Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. Kejriwal dismissed the sensational allegations against him of corruption and patronage to the liquor mafia. He said that these are completely false. He Ka Sisodia was working very hard to strengthen the education system of Delhi. For this reason he is being praised. They are getting electoral support, that is why the Center is trying to stop them. Kejriwal alleged that Aam Aadmi Party leaders were being implicated to stop them from working. Taking a jibe at the Center, Kejriwal said that the new rule in India seems to be that first it is decided who has to go to jail and then all kinds of concocted conclusions and lies are tagged on that person. Kejriwal insisted that it was AAP's popularity and electoral success, as the development of their Delhi model had scared the Centre.
BJP has been opposing it since the beginning
In January, the BJP had staged demonstrations against the new excise policy brought by the Delhi government. Opposing this policy, BJP's Delhi President Adesh Gupta had raised the question that this would increase liquor shops in Delhi. In this policy, right from fixing the money to fixing the brand will be with the contractors. Earlier there were 250 private contracts in Delhi, after the new excise policy this number increased to 850. If we count banquet halls, bars, airports and other places, then this number is close to 3000.
Why did this whole ruckus arise?
In fact, according to the new excise policy of the Delhi government, all 864 liquor shops, including 260 privately run shops, have been distributed to private companies through open tender. With the new system, the Delhi government will be out of the business of retail liquor. Liquor shops have now been opened in an area of at least 500 square feet. The shops are now air conditioned and equipped with CCTV. However, the Delhi government has been arguing that due to the new shop, there will be no congestion on the road, because the sale of liquor will be done inside the shops. Under the new excise policy, 5 super-premium retail outlets with an area of 2,500 sq ft have been opened, where liquor is also available. It is known that Kumar Vishwas, including BJP, had objected to this policy.