Liquor ban at Religious places

Lucknow, April 21: The UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced on Wednesday to ban on liquor shops in Hindu and Islamic religious places such as Vrindavan, Ayodhya, Chitrakoot, Deoband, Dewa Sharif, Misrikh-Naimisharanya, and Piran Kaliyar Sharif in the state.

He also instructed officers of the excise department to prohibit the sale of liquor with a kilometre of Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura and the Sangam area in Allahabad.

A senior politician told that 8,544 liquor outlets operating in residential areas, religious spots or near educational institutions should be removed in compliance with a Supreme Court order.

He also warned the officials at the meeting that,"Strict action will be initiated against officials in case total prohibition was not imposed around religious places and officials responsible will be punished"

He asked the officials to study excise policies of other states before drafting a new plan for UP.

According to an excise official, the ban was imposed as these places are visited by pilgrims throughout the year.