Throat or Lungs?
All India has been under a total lockdown since forty days.
It has seen two extensions.
There is now partial relaxation in place based on demarcation of zones into three colours-green, orange & red. And, there has been much debate and confusion over what constitutes ‘essential services’ and which are the ‘non-essential’ activities.
However, section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code is in force everywhere.This means that there cannot be an assembly of more than four people at any spot, across the lengthy & breadth of the country.
Covid-19 has offered the opportunity for establishments throughout the globe to re-set systems of governance.
India has not failed so far.
Albeit the initial blunder of not quarantining the first one hundred returnees from corona virus countries, an effective lockdown has ensured that despite being an unequal
society of equal citizens, the spread has been curbed in a most remarkable fashion.
But, it has now become apparent even to those not familiar with the manoeuvres and inside play which occurs in corridors of power, that a most suicidal step has been taken by an otherwise totally people’s Government.
By opening liquor shops.The circular says-‘ stand alone shops’ in non red zones.
Here becomes visible the myopic vision and bastardly brokers of power at play – who can silently yet nonchalantly, oust the diligence of a hard working, zealous duo in seats of governance.
The first day of opening of liquor sales has witnessed long, queues of thirsty men (& womenfolk) lining up on public roads outside these ‘centres of Bacchus’ or even mobs of lungi clad men rushing in like a swarm of flies as soon as the gates to the compound of toddy shops were thrown open in the early morning hours.
A colossal shame!
W H Y ?
One, the sec.144 prohibitory order has NOT been lifted anywhere in the country.
So, these citizens were violating the Law in force.
Two, where are the policemen who until this day, were busy bashing up the innocents who used to move outdoors to purchase vegetables or baby powder or medical supplies and other ladies’ essentials? These ‘covid -warriors’ were conspicuous by their absence or, noteworthy in their most friendly treatment of these ‘slaves of bottles’.
Three, how many were donning masks in these serpentine queues? not even the salesmen at counters say the reporters from ‘ground alcohol’!
Fourthly, aren’t these hordes endangering the lives of the tee-totallers and remaining 75% of India which comprises of children, ladies, aged and youth who never fell prey to this ‘luxury(essential) item?
Is it correct on part of this ‘na khawunga; na khanedoonga’ Government to replace the slogan with a screaming hoarding -‘ main piyunga aur na peenewalon ka waat lagawunga’ by spreading the coronavirus – in a act of revenge and by merrily drinking with batches of ‘bottle-buddies’ and, with a vengeance as well?!
Fifth, can not the compassionate government open book shops, milk food stores, music stores and such other truly necessary outlets instead of risking the lives of a 150-billion Indian lives?
If there is no endangering of public safety and community health by exodus of the ‘alcohol drinking classes’ from
the rich or poor strata of the society, how can those not addicted to such a luxury consumption, pose a hazard while adopting social-distancing measures and standing six feet apart from one another?
Sixth point being that those going out to replenish their personal stocks of liquor return to societies and apartment-complexes bring back manifold odds of becoming virus-carriers.Thereby, putting at great risk every one of the inmates in that household as also the whole neighbourhood!
Seventh, Court rulings have ensured the display of -‘cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption is injurious to health’ even in film scenes depicting characters indulging in these habits on screen.
So, how come the real pandemic situation permits wanton abuse of ‘freedom to drink liquor’ and violation of all applicable laws?
Unless this blunder is remedied, rest assured India 🇮🇳 would witness a most tragic burgeoning of covid -19 fatalities as occurred in Italy 🇮🇹!
Beware India 🇮🇳!
Once intoxicated, these connoisseurs tend to forget putting on the basic masks or wear hand gloves and virus 🦠 would but spread with glee, unchecked, uncontrolled and as dirty as a pig dancing in a muddy ditch.
Even God cannot save us from self-destruction.
Hence and therefore is it an opportune time for likes of @Swamy39 or even @pbhusgan1 both of whom have built a space in PIL arena of public practice [rest of us busily engaged in grassroots or national wealth pursuits] to knock doors of the Honourable Supreme Court of India 🇮🇳 Immediately and seek a STAY of liquor sales UNTIL factories and industries are opened after a complete lifting of the lockdown, in national human interest.
The Government too can take political refuge in this diplomatic manner utilising the long arm of the LAW, for a greater good of all Indians citizens.
Save India. Banish Covid-19 from India.
If at all the ‘exchequer’ – angle is still being bandied by babulog who guide Mr. Modi’s Government, mat the apex court be pleased to direct that both milk bottles or baby food and alcohol bottles or sachets be door delivered by the district administration (for a proper record purposes, let the public servants maintain a register and obtain signatures of the recipients of such a benevolent scheme with a disclaimer that legal heirs would not sue the Government if they were to die of a disease other than covid-19)!
Constitution of India sheds silent tears every single day and silent night at the sight of those destroying the fabric of Bharatvarsh and Hindu civilisation with a rampant abuse of its magnanimity.
I beseech upon Honourable @AmitShah and His Excellency @rashtrapatibhvn to withdraw the relaxation on sale & supply of liquor till the ugliest pandemic covid-19 exits India.
Or else, to allow apex court to direct restricted, door delivery.
(As it is, several falsified bills would have been manufactured yesterday to show stock sold out and bag super normal profits by black marketers).
Throat or Lungs?
Wake up, India 🇮🇳
Save lives of all Indians.
A Government is elected not only to collect taxes but more pertinently,to save precious lives- of one and all citizens.
Human rights would encompass and include the majority population of non consumers of alcohol (and certainly NOT of those who opt to violate laws,be it sec.144,Cr.P.C or social-distancing or domestic violence and public nuisance)!
Jai Hind
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But I differ on complete ban through PIL Sir
Rest assured of this be repeated,a judicious Bench would ensure door delivery to Bacchus‘s devotees. So, never any total ban. Kaliyuga revels Sir!
Typo- if this be the prayer,
Typo-
Read it as –
‘if this be the prayer, …
Though I enjoy my drink and am out of stock due to covid19 but I can’t agree more with your well written essay. However option of online sale must be tried as zomato or swiggy like company have work force to deliver it door to door. But these deliveries must be resticted and must not be done in red zone.
Keep writing more and more.
That’s a new perspective Sir. Well taken. Thanks. Jai Hind