New Delhi, 28 October (H.S.): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced plans to launch protests against the Delhi government unless it withdraws the newly introduced online liquor booking facility within 24 hours.

AAP’s Delhi unit president, Saurabh Bharadwaj, issued the warning in a video posted on the social media platform X on Wednesday, challenging the government to withdraw the “Book Your Liquor” scheme within the stipulated period. He warned that the party would otherwise launch a large-scale agitation and protests against the government.

Criticising the initiative, Bharadwaj alleged that Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was concerned about liquor consumers standing in queues outside liquor shops but remained indifferent to other pressing public concerns.

He questioned why the Chief Minister was not equally concerned about elderly patients waiting in queues at hospitals, women queuing for Pink Cards, and residents across nearly one-third of Delhi who, he claimed, were being forced to stand in queues because their names had been deleted from the electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

Bharadwaj said the AAP would not allow what he described as an anti-people liquor scheme to continue. He warned that if the government failed to withdraw the initiative immediately, the party would disrupt the functioning of the Delhi government and intensify its protests.

The online booking facility was introduced through the ‘Delhi Liquor Booking’ application launched by the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC). The platform allows consumers to book liquor online, but does not provide home delivery. Customers are required to visit the designated liquor outlet and collect their orders within the specified time limit.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar