Thursday, January 29, 2009

'I was misquoted on pub culture'

Zeenews Bureau

Jaipur, Jan 29: Facing criticism, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday backtracked on his comments slamming pub & mall culture by claiming that his comments were quoted out of context.

The clarification came from the Chief Minister's office, mentioning that Gehlot was quoted out of context.

"Every street and every city has big liquor shops with big signboards and there are shops close to schools and religious places. The previous BJP government had pushed youth towards pub culture and boys and girls roaming round in malls holding hands. I want to end this culture," he had told reporters yesterday.

Ghelot said the government wanted an end to the liquor culture that harmed social and cultural values and would not promote such a culture.

He said his Government's decision yesterday to shut down 800 liquor shops in urban areas was a move in this direction.

His remark on curbing youngsters mixing freely at pubs had not gone down well as it was taken as a moral policing attempt.


What must at all times be ensured if India is to remain a democratic and secular nation is that all sorts of freedom must be allowed so long as such freedom does not prove detrimental to harmony in society. What constitutes a detrimental act should be well clarified and written down in the statute books.

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