Ex-MP CM Slams Kamal Nath Govt's Anti-Mafia Drive, Liquor Policy

Slamming Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath for an anti-mafia drive in the state, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan on Saturday termed the MP govt. as ''Mafia Sarkar. Calling it a drive targeting Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) workers, Chouhan asked the Congress-led state government to make the names of mafia elements in various sectors public, including their workers also. He further said that the government's move to allow the opening of 'liquor shops' will ultimately lead to rise in crime.

Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh): Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan on Saturday slammed Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath for anti-mafia drive in the state.

Taking a jibe at Congress and terming it as 'Mafia Sarkar', Chauhan while speaking to ETV Bharat said, "The Congress government is looting the state and is cheating on people. They are trying to divert people from real issues as they are unable to fulfill their promises mentioned in the manifesto."

Calling it a drive targeting BJP workers, Chouhan asked the Congress-led state government to make the names of mafia elements in various sectors public, including their workers also.

He further said that the government's move to allow the opening of 'liquor shops' will ultimately lead to rise in crime.

He said, "The BJP would not allow the MP government to implement its new liquor policy which allows existing license-holders to open sub-shops."

"We will not let BJP govt. open the liquor shop. BJP workers along with women will protest and will not let Madhya Pradesh take decisions which will destroy the state and its future," Chouhan added.

Accusing Nath of misleading the people through his "wrong" claims on CAA, he said "I'm going in a pro-CAA rally today. Congress is misleading people and diverting people and doesn't want to understand the Citizenship Act. CAA will be implemented at any cost."

On January 11, a war of words has broken out between Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath and his predecessor Shivraj Singh Chouhan over the Congress-led state government's move to allow the opening of 'sub-liquor shops' in the state.

Chouhan, who was the chief minister of the state for three consecutive terms before his party- BJP- was dislodged from power in December 2018, wrote a letter to Nath, in which he opposed the idea of allowing 'sub-liquor shops', saying it would create problems for people in general and women in particular.

Earlier, the MP government officials issued a notification on sub-liquor shops in rural and urban areas claiming that the move was aimed at increasing revenue for the cash-strapped state. As per the order, existing liquor shop owners, after paying the license fee, can open a sub-shop five kms away in urban areas and 10 kms away in rural areas.