The Gujarat Home Department has officially granted a liquor license to a hotel in Porbandar. While the officials have granted the permit to the hotel under the Prohibition Act to cater specifically to authorised permit holders and tourists, several criticisms have risen regarding the grant.
The permit has been given to Lords Inn, a 3-star business hotel located on the popular Chowpatty that offers stunning views of the Arabian Sea. The hotel has secured a license to operate a dedicated wine shop.
The process, however, is lengthy. The hotel needs to submit detailed architectural plans for a "wine shop" within its premises. This would be followed by a multi-level review by the District Prohibition Committee and the Collector.
Additionally, there will be a mandatory police verification of the owners to ensure there are no educational or religious institutions located near the hotel. Once approved, the shop must operate under the constant oversight of the Prohibition and Excise Department, often with a dedicated Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) assigned to monitor transactions.
The license comes as a part of a legal exemption designed to support the tourism industry and provide for residents with medical "health permits."
Several people have criticised the move, highlighting the symbolic and moral weight of Mahatma Gandhi's birthplace. Congress leader Kantibhai Budhecha criticised the move by highlighting its social impact.
"Everyone knows the reality of prohibition in Gujarat," Budhecha remarked. "Opening a wine shop in Porbandar creates an environment that could potentially threaten the safety and security of our sisters and daughters."
Dr Shurkhaben Shah, a prominent Gandhian thinker, expressed deep disappointment over the government's decision.
"Prohibition is a statewide policy in Gujarat in honour of Gandhiji's legacy," she stated. "Selling liquor through an official shop in his own village is fundamentally inappropriate and contradicts the spirit of this land."
However, Prabhat Singh Gohil, a Prohibition and Excise Department official, clarified that the licence was granted by the Home Department strictly in accordance with existing regulations. He noted that the facility is intended to serve authorised permit holders and visiting tourists.