Two Maharashtra Ministers Allegedly Inaugurate Bar, Miss Happy Hours Since

Two ministers of Maharashtra have landed in controversy for allegedly inaugurating a bar in Ahmednagar, around 250 km from Mumbai.

The ruling BJP government favours prohibition, with neighbouring Gujarat being a dry state. Moreover, Ahmednagar is set to become the fourth district to be declared alcohol free, following a request from 600 gram panchayats. The other three are Wardha, Gadchiroli and Chandrapur.

But on Saturday evening, state Home Minister Ram Shinde reportedly cut the ceremonial ribbon in presence of - among others - Maharashtra's Minister of State for Finance Deepak Kesarkar.

It has given the Opposition an opening for attack.

Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said having a minister inaugurate a bar was "unfortunate". The NCP said though it was not illegal, it was certainly "not right".

"There is ban on advertisement of liquor. If ministers attend such events, then in a way it amounts to advertising liquor," news agency Press Trust of India quoted NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik as saying.

Mr Shinde, meanwhile, claimed he had inaugurated a restaurant, the Kirti veg-non veg family restaurant. "The beer bar is owned by the previous owner of the Rayri Park, where the restaurant I inaugurated is located," PTI quoted him as saying.

There was no violation of law in inaugurating a restaurant. And the beer bar had obtained all necessary permissions, he had added.