BJYM workers protest violation of timings by pub

Slogan shouting Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) activists forced one of the biggest pubs in the city to shut down for being open in violation of the stipulated timings, in the wee hours today.

At about 12.40 am, some 70 BJYM activists led by Sandeep Kale forced their entry into 'Lus', located on Dhole Patil Road, and asked 100 couples to leave.

"We carried out our protest very decently. The BJYM activists asked the couples on the dance floor to leave because the pub was open even after 11.30 pm, which is the stipulated time for the pubs to close for the day," BJYM Pune Unit president Sandeep Khardekar said.

He said his organisation has been campaigning against the increasing pub culture in the city and has been holding protests, particularly on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, if there is any violation of norms by the pubs.

Thursday being an industrial holiday, there is rush at the pubs on Wednesday nights and also on weekends, Khardekar said, adding the BJYM activists did not indulge in any kind of violence to mark their protest.