Allow using cane juice to make local liquor: Haryana BJP MP

NEW DELHI: A BJP MP from Haryana has urged govt to allow brewing of country liquor from grains, sugarcane, fruits and vegetables to stop the sale of spurious liquor, produced using methanol and other spirits, which lead to deaths of thousands across country.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour in Lok Sabha, Bhiwani-Mahendragarh MP Dharambir Singh said, "It is my suggestion that to prevent deaths (due to consumption of spurious liquor) and increase farmers' income, permission should be granted to manufacture country liquor."
He added permits to manufacture country liquor from sugarcane juice and other natural sources can be given at the local level while ensuring that states don't lose their revenue from excise duty. "Income of farmers will also increase by two to three times, if they are allowed to make country liquor from sugarcane juice," the BJP MP said.
Speaking to TOI, he said his idea was to go back to the roots rather than continue increase import in liquor from countries, including United States and European nations.
He said permits to manufacture country liquor from sugarcane juice and other natural sources can be given at local level while ensuring states don't lose their revenue from excise duty.