Cops seek to curb drunken driving, but small bars open till

A Madhya Pradesh minister Monday said while on one hand bars near liquor shops are allowed to serve alcohol till late in the night, on the other police ask people not to drive vehicles in an inebriated condition.

There is a contradiction that while 'ahatas' (small restaurants for drinking alcohol) in the state are allowed to serve liquor till late in the night, police launch campaigns against drunken driving, said Jitu Patwari, the Minister for Sports and Youth Welfare.

'Ahatas' were set up near liquor shops to stop people from drinking in the open.

He was speaking after launching a programme related to the Road Safety Week here.

Patwari said, "Main dekh raha hoo ki police ne jagah -jagah board laga rakhe hai ki log sharab peekar vahan na chalaye. Lekin iska doosra paksh dekhe to pata chalta hai ki sharab ki har dukan me ahata hai. In ahaton me logon ko rat 10 baje tak sharab pilai jati hai aur ye log (nashe me) sadak par vahan chalate hai."