By A Mirsab, TwoCircles.net,
Mumbai: All India Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader and member of the legislative Assembly Waris Pathan has written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, seeking a statewide ban on sale of alcohol on December 12-13 on the occasion of Eid-e-Milad, a day when section of Muslim community celebrate Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) birthday.
The same demand by AIMIM and Congress MLAs for liquor ban on December 23-24, 2015 was not considered by the BJP led government and it prompted Muslim leaders to accuse state government of disregarding the sentiments of Muslims over demand for liquor ban on that day.
However, MIM has again raised same demand for liquor ban on December 12-13. Pathan sent a memorandum on Thursday and demanded government to declare the liquor ban across the state for two days to mark Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) birth anniversary.
He cited example of meat ban in Mumbai on the orders of state government during Paryushan Parab, the rituals of the Jain community and asked Fadnavis to consider feelings of Muslims on the same lines and issue ban sale of alcohol on Eid-e-Milad.
“The Prophet Muhammad’s life’s work and his teachings are remembered on these days. The Muslim community takes out peaceful processions to celebrate it in the Muslim-dominated areas of the state and they go to the masjid to read prayers and pay their respects. Considering the sentiment of the Muslim community, the state government must declare a statewide ban on sale of alcohol,” the letter reads.
Both MIM MLA from Maharashtra – Imtiyaz Jalil and Waris Pathan – had written similar letter to Fadnavis last year but the state government turned down their demand. A circular issued last year by the state home department did not ban selling of liquor altogether but granted relaxation in timings to shops, beer bars and other establishments selling liquor, alcohol, beer, wine and country liquor on December 24 (Eid-e-Milad), December 25 (Christmas) and December 31 (New Year’s Eve).