Women opened a front against the liquor contract in Jakhlena

Women and local people of the area have started a protest against the government for opening a new liquor sub-shop in Jakhlena village of Naldhera Panchayat. Naldhera Panchayat Pradhan Sushma Kashyap said that no NOC was taken from the Panchayat for opening a liquor shop in Jakhlena village. The Excise and Taxation Department has opened the shop in this village on its own will. After the opening of the liquor shop, some local people openly drink alcohol and lie on the streets, which has created a situation of fear especially among women and children.
Sushma Kashyap said that 100% of the people in this village belong to the Scheduled Caste category. There is a government school at a distance of about 100 meters from the contract. She said that a delegation from the area recently met DC Shimla and Additional Commissioner Excise and Taxation Department regarding closing the contract but there was no hearing at any level. They say that if the government does not consider their serious problem, then the women of the area will not back down from protesting.
Prem Thakur, former president of Shimla District BJP, said that the way the contractor is calling the police to intimidate and threaten women to suppress their voices will not be tolerated at all. He expressed surprise and said that the government has gone bankrupt due to which the government now wants to earn money by opening liquor shops in the villages.
Additional Excise and Taxation Commissioner Vivek Chauhan said that the department has given approval to open a liquor sub-contract in Jakhlena. He said that according to the notification, Panchayat’s NOC is not required to open a liquor shop.