Raju Slams AAP Liquor Policy as senior BJP leader and former IAS officer Dr. Jagmohan Singh Raju strongly criticised the Bhagwant Mann-led government for what he called a political stunt. He said the decision to declare Amritsar a “Holy City” means little when the government continues to dilute long-standing liquor restrictions.
Raju said the walled city followed a strict liquor prohibition for decades under the Punjab Liquor License Rules, 1956. He argued that the government replaced this strong framework with a weaker rule that restricts liquor sales only within 200 metres of the Golden Temple. He called the move regressive and said it hurts public sentiment.
Raju Slams AAP Liquor Policy again as he pointed out that the shift happened soon after the Punjab and Haryana High Court issued notice on a PIL filed by the K.S. Raju Legal Trust. The petition demands full “Holy City” status for Amritsar and a complete ban on liquor, meat and tobacco across the district.
Raju said the AAP government contradicted its own courtroom position. He said the state earlier defended the 1956 rules and opposed a total ban, citing revenue needs and hotel industry demands. He now wants the government to restore the original prohibition, declare the entire city a Holy City, and enforce a complete liquor ban before the next hearing on December 16, 2025.
