Ban on liquor at religious sites step towards prohibition: Uma Bharti

On Wednesday, senior BJP figure Uma Bharti praised the Madhya Pradesh government’s plan to prohibit alcohol in religious sites, stating it was a move towards statewide prohibition.

Last week, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav stated that the government was considering prohibiting the sale and consumption of alcohol in “religious cities” to maintain the purity of these locations.

Bharti, a former chief minister, has been demanding a complete ban on liquor in the BJP-ruled state for the last few years. Congratulating Yadav in a post on ‘X’, she stated, “Complete prohibition of liquor in religious cities by the Mohan Yadav government of Madhya Pradesh is an unprecedented decision.” The liquor ban policy announced by the government two years ago was very public-friendly and pragmatic, she added. “We were moving towards complete prohibition. This is another step towards complete prohibition,” Bharti said.

Yadav responded to her post on X, saying banning alcohol consumption at “religious cities” was one of the priorities of his government.

He added that it will not only honor the beliefs of worshippers but also provide a “positive direction” for society. In 2022, Bharti initiated a unique campaign by tying two cows outside a liquor shop in Orchha town of Niwari district, known for its temples and palaces, and urged people to consume milk instead of alcohol. In 2023, she stayed at a temple in Bhopal for two days urging that the state’s excise policy be tightened.