‘New excise policy victory of Swaraj Abhiyan’s movement’

New Delhi, Aug 17 (PTI) Swaraj Abhiyan today claimedvictory after the Delhi government announced that no newliquor shops will come up in the national capital this yearand said Kejriwal’s move was an outcome of its movementagainst liquor shops. Questioning the alleged delay in the excise policy,Swaraj Abhiyan said the government has been deliberating overit for the last four months. "What happened in last 15 days that the Chief Ministerhad to make a U turn? We demand that common man should beconsulted before finalising the policy," Swaraj Abhiyan mediain-charge Anupam said. "The Delhi Chief Minister has said there will be no newliquor shops for the next one year. Has this decision beentaken from the point of view of polls in Punjab (Assemblypolls) and Delhi (MCD elections) next year?," he asked. Earlier, Swaraj Abhiyan had threatened to launch anagitation if liquor permits were given without consultation oflocal people. Activist-lawyer and the Abhiyan leader PrashantBhushan had undertaken a public hearing over a liquor shop inKotla Mubarakpur. According to the excise policy approved by the AAPgovernment today, no new liquor shop except in malls, willcome up in Delhi in the current financial year and the mohallasabhas will be empowered to shut existing neighbourhood vendsif there are complaints of "nuisance". PTI PR RCJ RGRCJ