Ramdas Athawale backs legalising hand-brewed liquor after Pune hooch tragedy

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale has advocated the legalisation and regulation of handbrewed liquor arguing that government oversight could help prevent fatalities from illicit alcohol consumption while generating additional revenue for the stateAthawale made the remarks on Tuesday while speaking to reporters in Bapgaon in Maharashtras Thane district days after a suspected hooch tragedy in Pune claimed around 15 livesThe Republican Party of India Athawale leader described the proposal as his personal opinion and said a regulated framework could help address recurring incidents involving spurious liquorAthawale Cites Pune Hooch TragedyReferring to the recent deaths linked to the consumption of suspected illicit liquor in Pune Athawale said many dailywage workers and lowincome groups continue to rely on locally brewed alcohol because of its affordability and easy availabilityAccording to him bringing the production and sale of such liquor under government regulation could improve safety standards and reduce the risks associated with illegal manufacturing practicesLegalising handbrewed liquor can generate revenue and save lives by ensuring safety Athawale saidHis remarks come amid renewed discussions over the effectiveness of enforcement measures against illegal liquor production and distribution in several parts of the countryCall for Government Regulation and Quality ControlAthawale argued that government monitoring would help ensure quality control and reduce the circulation of unsafe alcohol in the marketIllegal liquor has frequently been linked to poisoning incidents across India often due to the presence of toxic substances used during production Experts have long argued that stronger regulation enforcement and public awareness are essential to preventing such tragediesThe Union minister suggested that a regulated system could strike a balance between public safety concerns and the reality of existing demand among certain sections of societyReiterates Support for Maratha Reservation DemandDuring the interaction Athawale also addressed the ongoing debate over reservation for the Maratha community in MaharashtraHe said his party has consistently supported the demand for reservation but maintained that only those Marathas who possess documented Kunbi records should be eligible for Other Backward Class OBC certificatesAccording to Athawale extending OBC status to the entire Maratha community would not be appropriate under the current frameworkSuggests EWS Quota Route for MarathasThe Union minister proposed that members of the Maratha community could be accommodated through a 10 per cent reservation under the Economically Weaker Sections EWS categoryHe said the broader reservation issue should be examined after the completion of the Census which could provide updated socioeconomic data to guide policy decisionsAthawale emphasised that any reservation policy should be implemented in a manner that does not adversely affect the rights of other communitiesCalls for End to CasteBased DiscriminationThe Dalit leader also stressed the need to eliminate castebased discrimination and promote social inclusionHe said his party remains open to people from all castes communities and religions reiterating its commitment to social justice and equal opportunitiesWith inputs from PTI