Punjab govt in the dock

It was a tragedy waiting to happen. The Tribune had exposed the complicity of distilleries in the distribution of spurious and illicit liquor in Punjab and neighbouring states in recent months; and it did spur the governments into some bit of action — all proven to be wholly inadequate by the deaths in Majha districts. Nurtured and patronised, the neatly greased network of illegality has bared its fangs. Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has said the inquiry will look into the facts and circumstances leading to the incidents, as well as into any other connected issues. The bootleggers will be caught, and that would be the end of it. That is simply not enough. If the latest tragedy were caused by de-natured spirit from distilleries getting supplied to bootleggers, then organised racketeers and their political patrons need to be nabbed.

A complete overview is required of the liquor trade — production, distribution and sale. For the Excise Department, it’s a moment of truth. Why not have a ‘white paper’ on how Punjab’s most reliable revenue earner is managed? Why not an earnest effort to right-price, and not incentivise smuggling or the parallel liquor network? Why is a crackdown so difficult despite regular feedback on tampered liquor brands? What does it say about a state when a consumer leaves it to providence that the product being consumed is safe? The approach has been shameful and embarrassing.

The lockdown triggered a boom in demand and supply. The quality was allowed to be compromised. In June, under Operation Red Rose, Punjab Police seized 8.32 lakh litres of lahan (raw material mixed for distillation of illicit liquor). A whopping 3,490 cases were registered and 2,664 persons arrested. In short, the state machinery did move, but conveniently missed the larger picture. That sham efforts can go only so far, the real bumps are of own making — be it political appropriation, official obsequiousness, or police acquiescence. The government knows where to strike. It’s about time.