More than one lakh bottles of alcohol seized in BJP-ruled Arunachal

More than one lakh bottles of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) have been seized from across Arunachal Pradesh between March 18 and April 6, according to a seizure list of the state government. Arunachal goes to both Lok Sabha and state Assembly polls on April 18. Arunachal Pradesh is presently ruled by the BJP with Pema Khandu as its Chief Minister.

Since the Election Commission of India (ECI) issued the notification for simultaneous polls in Arunachal on 18 March, According to the government document, 70,000 bottles of beer have been seized and only six bottles of vodka till April 6.

East Kameng district tops the seizures list, followed by Kurung Kumey and Upper Subansiri, according to the document.

News portal Arunachal Times quoted Arunachal Pradesh Tax, Excise and Narcotics Commissioner Anirudh S Singh, “Liquor distribution is essentially a social problem and requires social intervention, not just an administrative one. The administrative efforts of the department can at best facilitate and assist a larger social effort for voter reformation.”

Meanwhile, an organisation called Women Against Social Evils (WASE) has appealed to all the contestants not to serve or distribute IMFLs among the voters in East Siang district. It has put up banners, in English and Adi, at the homes of the candidates.

“Let us all love and nurture our youths in the right direction for a better tomorrow. Show your love by not distributing alcohol this election,” the banners read, according to Arunachal Times.