Maharashtra ministers inaugurate liqour bar in Ahmednagar, spark controversy

By NewsGram Staff Writer

The involvement of Maharashtra's two ministers in the inauguration of a liquor bar in Ahmednagar has landed them in a great controversy.

According to a report, Ram Shinde, BJP's Minister of State for Home, did the honor of cutting the ceremonial ribbon of a bar while Deepak Kesarkar, Shiv Sena Minister of Finance for Home, was present at the occasion.

Reportedly, Ahmednagar is soon to be declared an alcohol free district following the suit of Wardha, Gadchiroli and Chandrapur districts.

Many political leaders of opposition have criticized this act of the two ministers.

A news agency reported Sachin Sawant, a Congress spokesperson, as saying, "It is unfortunate that a minister of the government inaugurates a beer bar."

Nationalist Congress Party spokesperson, Nawab Malik, stated that although it was not illegal, the ministers should have refrained from the event.

"There is already a ban on liquor advertisements…If ministers attend such events, it amounts to advertising liquor," Malik said.

However, following these sparks of debate, Shinde and Kesarkar justified themselves by saying that they had gone to the opening of a family restaurant and not a liquor bar.

According to IANS, Shinde clarified himself by stating, "I have done nothing wrong; It's a family restaurant and has all the necessary permissions. The bar is owned by the previous owner where this restaurant is situated".