Objections over liquor, meat sale during weekend lockdown in Haryana

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, August 23

Several social activists have objected to the functioning of liquor vends and meat shops during the weekend lockdown imposed by the state government in view of the surge in Covid-19 cases.

‘People hardly adhere to norms’

The move speaks volumes of the seriousness of the authorities to contain the spread of the pandemic as such shops attract a large number of people, who hardly adhere to social distancing or wearing masks. — Dr Brahmdutt, Bhrastachar Virodhi Manch

“As the order imposing the lockdown on Saturday and Sunday clearly mentions that shops or establishments providing only essential services shall remain open during the period, the authorities concerned have failed to impose this ban on liquor vends and meat shops remaining open and becoming hotspots of visitors daily,” said Ajay Bahl of Ek Sangharsh, an NGO.

While the order passed on August 21 had “failed” to clarify if liquor and meat sale was allowed, these items could not be put in the category of essential items like grocery, vegetables, medicines and milk products, he said.

Opposing the functioning of liquor vends during lockdown , SK Sharma, District Coordinator of Road Safety Organisation, an NGO working for traffic safety, said that liquor was one of the main reasons behind accidents and its sale during the pandemic was wrong. Condemning the functioning of the liquor and meat shops during the weekend lockdown, Dr Brahmdutt of the Bhrastachar Virodhi Manch, said the move speaks volumes of the seriousness of the authorities to contain the spread of the pandemic as such shops attracted a large number of people, who hardly adhere to social distancing or wearing masks.

Describing the weekend lockdown move as just a kind of mockery, AK Gaur of the Faridabad Action Group, claimed that the order was confusing as it failed to specify about the need of sale of liquor and meat during the two days of a week. “It is a pity that cops are driving away petty vegetable vendors citing the lockdown in some parts of the city,” he said. “The city has 212 vends and no order has been received to close these down during the weekend lockdown,” said SPS Chauhan, DETC (Excise). The city has over 200 meats shops at present.