Plugging for the malt march

Recently newspapers around here seem to have been plugging for relaxation of prohibition laws. The last week has seen daily articles in The Times of India (Gujarat edition) on various items related to the prohibition laws. From relaxation of prohibition in Special Economic Zones (SEZ’s) in Gujarat to whether a middle path of sale of only beer and wine is feasible. Articles from old timers to the hot blooded youth on the sale of hard drinks and the freedom of choice

Today was no different. They managed to unearth a 1975 study by the government (I wonder who supplied this to them) taking the winds out of the sales of most pro prohibition lobbies. This “detailed study” seems to have found no correlation between the poor being vulnerable to temptation and remaining poor due to alcohol.

While I am all for relaxation of the ridiculous laws, I cannot help but wonder about this daily front page occurrence. Looks like someone up there really likes Mr. Dinesh Hinduja. No. I don’t mean our numerous Gods and Goddesses. I mean someone in the Modi government pulling such a stunt in the election year.

Has it really dawned on our “enlightened” politicians that over regulation is stupid and a waste of time and resources or are there more skeletons in the cupboard? Has Mr. Hinduja managed to awaken something among the masses or does he have some good friends in The Times of India? Guess I’m an eternal cynic. Only time will tell. Till then lets all lift our glasses in toast to these new developments.

The Malt March Strikes

A reader had commented on my previous entry as to how long can Gujarat live with this hypocrisy of prohibition. As if on cue, Mr. Dinesh Hinduja, leader of THE MALT MARCH decided to prove this hypocrisy. Union textile minister Shankersinh Vaghela went on a hunger strike under full media glare to protest against the governments liberal policies towards alcohol. Unfortunately, he forgot that he is not the only old hand at manipulating the media. Mr. Hinduja walked up to him and asked him to swear on the Bagwad Gita that he had never broken Gujarat's prohibition laws under the same media glare. Caught unawares, all he could tell Mr. Hinduja was to put the book away. He later tried to explain it away saying that he has drunk in other places etc etc. All I can say is three cheers Mr. Hinduja. Let us hope I can say it many more times to him and to my friends in the days to come.