Maharashtra Bent On Making Liquor

It seems that Maharashtra government is hell bent on making wine or liquor. After its ambitious and controversial scheme to make liquor from the foodgrains was mire into controversy, it is now considering proposals to make wine from wild berries (Karvand), found mainly in coastal Konkan region.

"We will positively consider any proposals to make wine from wild-berries and if possible... capital in the 1:9 ratio would be made available for the business," Water Resources Minister Ajit Pawar informed the Legislative Council today.
The government's intention is to help farmers make profit, he said.

Only last week the state government announced in the Council it would consider a proposal for making liquor from jowar, cashew fruit, 'jamun' (java plum) and 'chikoo'. In an apparent reference to the row over production of liquor from foodgrains, Pawar said, these matters have been unnecessarily politicised.

In the past, the government even announced to make alcohol from bamboom shoots. “This will enable the Adivasis to earn extra money,” was the government’s contention.

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BJP Shares Congress Drink

When it comes to money, there are hardly any difference between Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party. The fact was demonstrated today by the statement given by Gopinath Munde, deputy leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha. Talking to PTI, Munde said

BJP was not opposed to the Maharashtra government's move to make wine from rotten grains. Munde was in Aurangabad for the felicitation ceremony on his appointment as deputy opposition leader in the Lok Sabha. PTI quoted him saying, He said, "Neither I nor my party oppose the decision of the state government to prepare wine out of the decayed food grains. The farmers may get an additional income from it. I will, however, oppose the proposal to make wine out of eatable food grains

The government's move to allow making liquor and wine from rotten foodgrain has come under fire from various quarters. Organisations like Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmuan Samiti has opposed the move. Munde's support to government stand has come as a shocker to the organisations. It also marks a shift in the opposition's stand.  

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