Mumbai Jan 31 PTI Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Monday slammed the BJP for opposing the state governments decision to allow sale of wine in supermarkets and pointed out that the saffron partys government in Madhya Pradesh has permitted to stock liquor at homes in large quantities The Maharashtra governments move to allow the sale of wine in supermarkets will definitely help the farmers the food and civil supply minister said Last Thursday the Maharashtra government said the sale of wine will be allowed in supermarkets and walk-in stores in the state The decision was taken to give a boost to fruit-based wineries which provide additional income to farmers Minister for Skill Development Nawab Malik had said The opposition BJP in the state however had slammed the decision saying the government was promoting liquor Justifying the Maharashtra governments decision Bhujbal said In Madhya Pradesh where the BJP is in power the government has allowed to stock liquor in homes in large quantities They have given permission to open a bar Wine is widely regarded as a health drink across the world This the governments decision will definitely help the farmers Anyone who wants to buy it can procure it from anywhere I dont think it is right to make a mountain of a molehill the NCP leader said Earlier in the day social activist Anna Hazare said it was unfortunate that the Maharashtra government was giving priority to liquor sale for financial gains Hazare said it is the governments duty to discourage people from drugs alcohol and addiction It is sad to see that decisions are being made to promote alcohol and addiction only for revenue generation he said The state government last week said supermarkets and shops measuring 1000 square feet and above can sell wine by paying a licence fee But the supermarkets which are near places of worship or educational institutions can not sell wine Further wine sale will not be allowed in the districts where prohibition is in force it said Supermarkets will have to be pay a fee of Rs 5000 for selling wine the government had said BJP leader and former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had criticised the decision saying the government had rolled back prohibition We will not allow Maharashtra to become a Madya-rashtra liquor state he had said PTI PR GK GK

Mumbai Jan 28 PTI A day after the Maharashtra cabinet allowed supermarkets and shops to sell wine with some conditions Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Friday said those opposing this decision are anti-farmer The state government had on Thursday said supermarkets and shops measuring 1000 square feet and above can sell wine by paying a licence fee though norms in place for liquor sale like minimum distance from schools and places of worship as well as local prohibition laws will have to be followed I do not know whether wine is considered liquor but it is made from farm produce With its sale farmers could earn more Those who are opposing it are in fact anti-farmer Raut told reporters Is there a liquor ban in the country Wine is produced from a range of fruits such as grapes guava chikoo etc It the state governments decision will give farmers higher returns and help in elevating their economic status The critics of this decision should understand the economics behind it he added He said the BJP-led Union government must also take such decisions courageously to help farmers PTI ND BNM BNM BNM

London [UK], Sep 24 (ANI): Wine has knocked Hermes handbags and whisky from their number one positions in the index in recent years with prices of investment grade wine up 13 per cent over 12 months to the end of June, according to Knight Frank's latest Luxury Investment Index (Q2 2021).