New Delhi [India], April 2 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Gyaneshwar Patil on Tuesday thanked Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav for banning liquor in 19 religious places in the state and said that the CM took a firm decision.

'On behalf of the people of Madhya Pradesh and Sanatanis, I thank CM Mohan Yadav...It was seen that people used to go for darshan with great devotion, but there used to be a few people among them who could not be without consuming liquor...It is natural that if liquor is sold there, meat would also be available. This used to hurt people's sentiments. CM decided to completely ban this. This would certainly cause a little loss in revenue but we will compensate for it elsewhere. The CM took a firm decision; I welcome it,' Gyaneshwar Patil told ANI.

The Madhya Pradesh government outlined the liquor ban in 19 religious cities and gram panchayats of the state would be implemented from April 1.

This announcement of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav was approved by the Cabinet at a meeting held in Maheshwar, the city of Lokmata Ahilyabai, on January 24, 2025.

Following the recent decision, all establishments that sell alcoholic beverages, including liquor shops and bars, will be mandated to close their operations within the entire urban boundaries of several cities.

The religious places where the decision to ban liquor has been taken include one Municipal Corporation, six Municipal Councils, six City Councils, and six Gram Panchayats.

This includes Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar, Mandleshwar, Orchha, Maihar, Chitrakoot, Datia, Panna, Mandla, Multai, Mandsaur, and Amarkantak. Additionally, the closure will extend to the gram panchayat regions of Salkanpur, Kundalpur, Bandakpur, Barmankalan, Barmankhurd, and Linga.

From April 1, 2025, liquor is completely prohibited in 19 declared sacred urban and rural areas of the state. (ANI)