Ayodhya: Yogi government bans liquor around Ram temple

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh government has banned the sale of liquor within 100 kosi radius of Ram temple in Ayodhya. The decision comes ahead of the grand inauguration of the Ram temple in the holy city on January 22. This was announced by UP Excise Minister Nitin Agarwal after meeting Champat Rai, General Secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Thursday. 84 Kosi Parikrama Marg has also been declared a liquor prohibition area. The decision to ban liquor in the holy city of Ayodhya dates back to 2018 when the Yogi Adityanath government renamed Faizabad district as Ayodhya. Subsequently, the saints and sadhus of the area demanded a ban on alcohol as well as meat to ‘preserve the sanctity of the place’. Besides, the officials also canceled the licenses of liquor vendors of Ayodhya. Mathura administration has ordered the closure of 37 liquor, beer and cannabis shops located near temples. Three pubs located in hotels in Mathura were closed.