Over 300 Liquor Shops Remained Closed in Jaipur: Traders Protested Demanding Extended Sales Hours, Opposing Excise Policy
Today in Jaipur, liquor traders closed their respective shops and staged a protest outside the Excise Office. The traders demanded an extension of shop operating hours for liquor sales and an end to the trend of unlawful harassment by the police administration. However, this shutdown had a mixed impact across Jaipur.
While a majority of traders in the city extended their support to the protest, a few opened their establishments in the morning. However, officials of the association later convinced them to close down as well.
Under the banner of Raj Liquor Welfare Society, hundreds of traders reached the Excise Office located at Jhalana during the day. Everyone there expressed opposition to the increase in liquor sales targets under the government’s new excise policy. Nilesh Mewara, President of the Society, stated that while the government increased the sales target by 12.5 percent, it failed to extend the sales hours despite prior assurances.
A delegation of protesters met District Excise Officer Mahipal Singh inside the office and submitted a memorandum detailing their issues.
Shops Reopened Following Commissioner’s Assurance
After handing over the memorandum to the District Excise Officer, the traders’ delegation went to the Secretariat to meet Excise Commissioner Shivprakash Nakate. Here, the Commissioner listened to the delegation and assured them that a positive decision would soon be taken after discussions at the government level regarding their demands.
Regarding the issue of unlawful harassment by the police, he spoke to police officials over the phone immediately to resolve the matter. Following the conversation with police officials and receiving assurances, the traders reopened their shops after around 2 PM.
