Manpreet assures Akali MLA of not letting illicit liquor flourish
Saturday, 08/04/2017
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BATHINDA: Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal on Friday assured liquor baron and former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLA Deep Malhotra of not letting the sale of illicit liquor flourish in the district.
The SSD Girls College management honouring finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal during their annual day function in Bathinda on Friday.
Malhotra’s wife Dimpy Malhotra has been allotted the Power House road zone of liquor vends in the district in the auction held on Wednesday evening. Malhotra met Manpreet Badal at the circuit house where Manpreet Badal met people.
Manpreet said that Malhotra had come to express the concern of the sale of illicit liquor which might affect their business. Manpreet said, “Last year, liquor traders in Bathinda suffered losses because of the sale of illicit liquor. Malhotra had come to express apprehension if the same might happen here and some political persons might indulge in sale of illicit liquor”.
“I assured him that sale of illicit liquor will not be allowed. It is my duty to protect the revenue of the state. He should do business freely. Those in sale of illicit liquor will not get the backing of the Congress,” he said.
Having failed to allot the liquor vends in the district in two attempts, the excise and taxation department succeeded in allotting the vends through quotations late Wednesday evening.
Manpreet said that a delegation of the Punjab government, led by chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, will be in Mumbai on a three-day visit from April 10 to 12 where they will meet industrialists for ensuring industrial investment in the state. “The delegation will meet about 27 industrialists during the visit," he said.
He said that the state government was committed to eradicating the drug menace from the state and will act strongly against the drug smugglers. Manpreet was here in connection with the annual function of SSD Girls College.
