Liquor sale banned by Madhya Pradesh in 17 towns of religious importance

The Madhya Pradesh government has decided to ban the sale of liquor in 17 religiously significant towns, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav declared on Friday.

The ban will apply to the Ujjain Municipal Corporation, the Datia, Panna, Mandla, Multai, Mandsaur, and Maihar nagar palikas (municipalities), the Omkareshwar, Maheshwar, Mandleshwar, Orchha, Chitrakoot, and Amarkantak nagar parishads (urban councils), and six village panchayats: Salkanpur, Barman Kala, Linga, Kundalpur, Bandakpur, and Barmankhurd, Scroll.in reported.

“These shops will not be shifted elsewhere,” said Yadav. “Liquor shops will be completely shut in Ujjain Municipal Corporation limits.”

The chief minister also stated that the prohibition on liquor sales within a five-kilometre radius of the Narmada River will remain in effect. The river is considered sacred in Hinduism.

Madhya Pradesh's 21 districts along the river include around 450 religious buildings. Yadav stated at an event in Maheshwar that no liquor shops would operate in these areas after April 1 of next year.

“If god willing, we will shut liquor vends at other places also,” he added.

In September, Yadav stated that the Bharatiya Janata Party government intended to "ban meat and liquor shops in religious towns". "This is not a one-day process; it is an ongoing one," he had stated, asking officials to guarantee that no meat or liquor be consumed in holy towns along the Narmada's banks.

The Opposition Congress has described the move as a "sacred" undertaking. "It is a sacred idea," Congress leader Jitu Patwari stated, according to ANI. "The Chief Minister [CM] himself is from Mahakal ki Nagri [Ujjain]. He should first ban liquor there."

Yadav placed restrictions on the sale of meat and eggs in public places shortly after assuming office as chief minister in December 2023.