Berhampur: Anti-liquor agitators in Odisha have decided to start a campaign to reject the candidature of drunkards, liquor vendors and persons encouraging circulation of illicit liquor in Kandhamal district in the panchayat elections scheduled to be held in February.
Under the banner of Kandhamal Mada Multi Milita Abhiyana, the anti-liquor agitators observed Kandhamal bandh on July 2 and several organisations supported them.
The anti-liquor campaigners have been spearheading an agitation for complete prohibition in the tribal-dominated district.
To continue our agitation, we have decided to make it is an issue and start a campaign to reject the candidates responsible for liquor abuse in the next panchayat polls, said convener of KMMMA Hemant Nayak.
The campaigners, mostly women folk, will start the drive in villages, The Times of India reported.
“We will appeal to people not to cast vote for the candidates linked with liquor trade and consuming liquor,” added Kesamati Pradhan, a leader of the campaign.
Stating the liquor is the root cause of disturbance in the district, another campaigner Sumanti Pradhan said, “We want sale and manufacturing of liquor be stopped for improvement in the district’s socioeconomic condition.”
Nayak said they have been demanding complete prohibition for over a year. They have staged dharnas and observed bandh at Daringibadi and other parts of the district.
“We submitted a memorandum to Governor S C Jamir at the Raj Bhawan in Bhubaneswar. The agitation would continue till our demands are fulfilled, he added.