A new row erupted in Punjab after a “women-friendly shop” selling liquor was opened in Jalandhar's Lamma Pind Chowk. Jalandhar's 'Women-friendly liquor shop' had sparked a massive row with political parties like the BJP, Congress & more objected to it. As per reports, the newly opened liquor store wrote a 'women-friendly shop' and this is what sparked a massive controversy in the state. Apart from the political uproar, social organizations also objected to it. The objection first surfaced when Congress Committee chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring tweeted saying, "The AAP government came to power on a promise to end the drug menace in Punjab within the first three months of its rule. But the move shows that they have even started luring women into the trap." However, the Punjab Government refuted the allegations.
ਸ਼ਰਮਨਾਕ! ਪੰਜਾਬ ਨੂੰ ਤਿੰਨ ਮਹੀਨੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਨਸ਼ਾ ਮੁਕਤ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਵਾਅਦਾ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਹੁਣ ਔਰਤਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਸ਼ਰਾਬ ‘ਤੇ ਲਗਾਉਣ ਦੀਆਂ ਤਿਆਰੀਆਂ ਕਰ ਚੁੱਕੇ ਹਨ। ਨਸ਼ਾ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਹੀ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੀਆਂ ਪੀੜੀਆਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਪੀੜੀਆਂ ਨਿਗਲ ਚੁੱਕਿਆ ਹੈ, ਹੁਣ ਔਰਤਾਂ ਲਈ ਠੇਕੇ ਖੋਲ ਕੇ @BhagwantMann ਜੀ ਕਰਨਾ ਕੀ ਚਾਹੁੰਦੇ ਹਨ? ਬਦਲਾਅ ਦਾ ਇਹ ਨਵਾਂ ਰੂਪ ਬਹੁਤ ਭਿਆਨਕ… pic.twitter.com/66bzBlsjZQ
— Amarinder Singh Raja Warring (@RajaBrar_INC) August 11, 2023
Notably, after the political uproar, Punjab's Excise and Taxation Department officials ordered the shut of the wine shop. Reports further suggest that the liquor store will be opened but now with a different name and banner. The main reason behind this is the excise duty deposited with the excise department. Interestingly, the concept of the ‘women-friendly’ liquor studio was already there in Madhya Pradesh and Gurugram. However, this kind of a store was reportedly opened for the first time in Punjab. As soon as the leaders and activists took to social media targeting the ruling AAP government on the issue, the excise officials got the store shut. Even the tagline the ‘women-friendly liquor studio’ was removed from the hoardings outside the shop.
Reports further suggest that the Jalandhar wine shop in question was not a typical 'theka'. It was just selling foreign liquor in the shop. However, it used a 'women-friendly shop' tag on its banner which ultimately led to controversy.