On Tuesday, 10th August 2021, numerous empty alcohol bottles were discovered discarded in a passage in the Maharashtra secretariat complex in South Mumbai, raising obvious holes in the security system at the state government’s seat of power. In this connection, the government of Maharashtra has ordered an inquiry and are further investigating the whole case. As per the initial reports at hand, the empty bottles of liquor were spotted lying under the staircase leading to the Mantarlaya canteen which is situated on the ground floor. The Mantralay also serves as the office for several ministers including Chief Minister, Chief Secretary and other bureaucrats.
In this context, Dattatray Bharne, the Minister of State for General Administration has finally come forward and talked about the matter to a local regional new channel. Bharne suspects the involvement of private contractors and labourers who have been visiting Mantralaya for some construction-related work. Talking to a local regional daily, Bharne stated that “It is his personal theory that the empty liquor containers could have been brought inside the Mantraylay by workers of some contractor executing numerous works in the building.”
Bharne further stated, “He will notify the matter of dumping of liquor bottles on the building of the state administrative headquarters to the state home minister, honourable Dilip Walse Patil personally and will ensure a detailed inquire on the same. The guilty from the inquiry will have to face severe action.” Undoubtedly this matter has certainly raised huge concerns about the security system of the administration and in this regard, the BJP Spokesperson of Maharashtra, Keshav Upadhye has slammed the Shiv Sena-led MVA government over the incident.
Upadhye also added that no person can surely come and go like on their will in the Mantralay without a valid pass issued by security officials. Upadhye then added with sarcasm, accusing Shiv Sena, that this government has a delicate corner for the alcohol business which is quite visible to anyone. It is extremely offensive to witness so many bottles of alcohol lying in the staircase of Mantralaya.
The matter has certainly turned into a political issue and Upadhye did not waste time in highlighting the fact that under the BJP government the sale and distribution of liquor were prohibited in the Chandrapur district in East Maharashtra however under the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) rule, the decision was reversed. Upadhye further accused the MVA ruling state party that even during the Wuhan virus pandemic, when the state conducted lockdown, this government shamelessly opened liquor shops before introducing relaxations to other shops and services.
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