Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has demanded the wine shops should be allowed to resume operations during the lockdown period as it will help boost the state’s revenue.
In a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Raj Thackeray said that as every other industry is shut, allowing the sale of liquor and wine can generate revenue through excise duty. The state could generate ₹41 crores in a day and ₹1,250 crores in a month through excise duty, the MNS chief said.
“The state should not get caught up in moral issued at such a crucial time and should take necessary decisions. Let us face reality and find solutions,” Raj Thackeray wrote in his letter adding that the wine shops will help boost the revenue when the state’s treasury is fast depleting.
The MNS chief also suggested that small restaurants and canteens should be allowed to function against as the loss in income affects not only the businessmen but also the employees.
In his letter, Thackeray clarified that the suggestion was not for ‘liquor lovers’ but to generate the much-needed revenue of the state. Moreover, the lifting of lockdown which was extended until May 3 is also not likely.
India has been under nationwide lockdown since March 25 and on April 14, the same was extended till May 3 in the view of the increasing cases of the coronavirus or COVID-19.
Maharashtra has become the worst-hit state in India and has crossed 6,000-mark with 6,430 COVID-19 cases while the number has increased to 4,205 in Mumbai which is 65 per cent of the total coronavirus in the state.
On Thursday, Mumbai witnessed a huge jump of 552 people testing positive for the coronavirus. The single-day spike for Mumbai was earlier seen on April 19 when 456 fresh COVID-19 cases were reported.
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