Wine is not liquor: Sanjay Raut defends Maharashtra govt's decision on wine sale at supermarkets
India Today
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said the Maharashtra government's decision to allow sale of wine at supermarkets and walk-in shops would double the farmers' income.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Friday said that the Maharashtra government's decision to allow the sale of wine at supermarkets and walk-in shops in the state would double the farmers' income.
"Wine is not liquor. If wine sale increases, farmers will get benefit from it. We've done this to double farmers' income," news agency ANI quoted Sanjay Raut as saying.
Sanjay Raut also hit out at the opposition BJP for slamming the Uddhav Thackeray-led government's decision. "BJP only opposes but does nothing for farmers," Sanjay Raut said.
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On Thursday, the Maharashtra Cabinet passed a proposal to allow the sale of wine at supermarkets and walk-in shops, saying it would give a boost to fruit-based wineries which provide additional income to farmers.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office, the “shelf-in-shop” method can be adopted by those supermarkets and stores that have an area of 1,000 square feet or more and are registered under the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Act.
However, supermarkets near places of worship and educational institutes will not be permitted to sell wine. The sale of wine will also not be allowed in districts where liquor prohibition is in force.
