Since liquor stores opened up on May 4, therehave been reports about absolute chaos outside the shops in cities across thecountry. People lined up outside shops hours before they opened and refusedto heed any advisory, pushing each other, tripping over one another to gettheir hands on a bottle.
Amid chaotic scenes, a Delhi customer openly slammedthe police force for their lackadaisical approach in maintaining discipline andorder outside the shops.
In a video released by news agency ANI, a man expressed hisanger towards the authorities and the police force.?
He said that the cops arrivedjust five minutes before the liquor shop in Laxmi Nagar area was to open, even though a large number of people had started queuing up since the break of dawn.
He said he had been in the queue since 6:00 am. "Some of myfriends have been here since 4:00 am. The shop was supposed to open at 9:00 am but thepolice arrived at 8:55 am... Till then, nobody was here to manage the unrulycrowd."
"Who will be responsible if something untoward happenshere?" he questioned.
The man said "We have no issues with 70 per centextra tax" on liquor that the Delhi government imposed in a late-night order onMonday. "It's like a donation or a contribution from us towards thecountry," he told ANI. ????????????
In a revised order the Delhi government said it will imposea 'special corona fee' on alcohol sale which will be 70 per cent of the MRP.
He said the authorities keep blaming the public, sayingpeople are becoming restless outside alcohol stores. "It is the duty ofthe police to be here and make the public aware about social distancing. Butnobody is here.¡±
"Who will provide proper facilities for the securityand protection of Delhi public," he questioned
There are around 850 liquor shops in the city, includingthose run by government agencies and private individuals.
?In the order that allowed these shops to be reopened, the Delhi government instructed all shop in-charges and other staff to report at their respective shops at 7:00 am sharp.? ?
The police on their part have been doing everything in their power to tame the crowds thronging the shops.? Chalkcircles were drawn for buyers to stand in, but the social distancing efforts werethwarted as people gathered.?Meanwhile, Delhi Police has suggested that the timing for sale of alcohol is extended to avoid crowding at the outlets.?
While some people are faulting the police for mismanagement of crowds, the other more glaring reality is people not giving two hoots about their safety in their desperation to buy alcohol. We all know that there is a pandemic, and we know what we need to do to be safe and keep others safe. So, is it only the responsibility of the police, and not the people, to make sure rules are followed? If the police is absent, are we okay we putting our lives and those of others - including our family members - in danger??