Delhi Assembly Engages in Discussion Over CAG Report on AAP's Excise Policy
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Synopsis
The Delhi Assembly engaged in a debate over the CAG's report on the AAP's excise policy, focusing on allegations of bias in liquor licensing, poor management of public resources, and the detrimental social effects of the policy.
Key Takeaways
- Discussion initiated on the CAG's report regarding AAP's excise policy.
- BJP MLAs accuse AAP of favouritism in liquor licensing.
- Concerns raised about the absence of liquor quality testing.
- Statue of Shaheed Bhagat Singh criticized for being neglected.
- Financial losses to the government highlighted in the report.
New Delhi, Feb 27 (NationPress) A discussion regarding the Comptroller and Auditor General's (CAG) critical report on the former AAP government's excise policy commenced on Thursday in the Delhi Assembly. BJP MLAs criticized alleged favouritism in the issuance of liquor licenses, the establishment of vends in residential areas, and the lack of laboratory testing of liquor prior to its sale in the city.
The third session of the House, which began on February 25, commenced with only Amanatullah Khan from the AAP representing the opposition, while the remaining 21 legislators protested outside the Assembly due to a suspension imposed on them by Speaker Vijender Gupta until Monday.
Before delving into the discussion on the excise policy, Malviya Nagar MLA Satish Upadhyay highlighted the issue of a desecrated statue of Shaheed Bhagat Singh located in a park in the southern Delhi colony.
"The AAP Malviya Nagar MLA has neglected the damaged arm and leg of the statue for the last three years," he stated, mentioning that he has now covered the statue and instructed officials to either repair it or install a new one within a month.
He remarked that the AAP leader's regard for Shaheed Bhagat Singh is insincere. "If they were genuinely committed to honoring our national hero, they would have repaired the statue and acted accordingly," he stated.
The poor condition of the statue in Malviya Nagar park reveals the double standards of the AAP, which raises slogans in the House yet "fails" to show proper respect for the statue, Upadhyay added, noting that a similar statue in Mehrauli has also suffered damage.
Later, participating in a Special Mention (Rule 280), Upadhyay drew attention to the lack of quality checks on liquor when issuing licenses to vendors, as highlighted by the CAG report on the now-repealed excise policy of the former AAP government.
"The CAG report indicated that liquor licenses did not meet the requirement of testing liquor samples. This AAP policy fostered the sale of illicit liquor in the city," he remarked.
He noted that the government incurred a loss of an additional ₹941 crore due to exemptions granted to zonal licensees.
The CAG report further stated that the exchequer lost approximately ₹890 crore because the AAP did not re-tender the surrendered retail liquor licenses, he added.
Greater Kailash MLA Shika Rai contributed to the discussion on the CAG report, alleging that the easy access to liquor in Delhi under AAP's flawed "one-plus-one" bottle policy has adversely affected low-income groups.
"Instances of domestic violence have risen, along with debt in the city," she noted, adding that during a time when many underprivileged individuals are striving to earn a living, they are tempted to spend excessively on liquor.
The CAG report presented in the Delhi Assembly on Tuesday asserted that the policy implemented by former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his ministers allegedly led to a loss exceeding ₹2,002 crore to the exchequer.
