Former Maharashtra Finance Minister and senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar strongly criticized the low attendance of ministers during Assembly proceedings, suggesting that those who fail to maintain at least 75% attendance in the House should be removed from their posts. His remarks came during a discussion on a Private Member's Bill that seeks to prohibit public drinking and the consumption of alcohol at historical forts.
While speaking in the Assembly, Mungantiwar expressed disappointment at the empty ministerial benches, noting that only Minister Ashish Shelar was present on behalf of the government. "In schools and colleges, students are barred from appearing in exams if they don’t maintain 75% attendance. A similar rule should be implemented here. Ministers who fail to attend the House regularly should be stripped of their posts," he said, visibly agitated.
This isn’t the first time Mungantiwar has raised concerns over ministerial absenteeism. He lamented that despite serious discussions being held on matters of public interest, several ministers often remain absent from the Assembly floor.
The core of Mungantiwar’s Private Member’s Bill focused on the growing menace of public drinking, particularly in areas of cultural and historical significance, such as forts associated with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He presented newspaper reports and real-life incidents, highlighting issues like drunken brawls, drink-and-drive cases, and youth consuming alcohol at heritage sites.
He urged the government to introduce stringent provisions under existing laws, stating, “People should consume alcohol in their homes, not on the streets or in public places. Forts are symbols of pride, not venues for parties.”
In response, Minister Ashish Shelar, while acknowledging Mungantiwar’s concern, took a lighthearted jab at his role by saying, “Though I am not a drunkard, I still have to speak on behalf of drunkards.”
Shelar outlined that under existing legal provisions, individuals who create a nuisance in public after consuming alcohol can face up to one year in jail and a fine of ₹1 lakh. However, he added that if the House seeks to make these provisions more stringent, it would require comprehensive consultation with departments like Home, Law, and Excise.
Agreeing with Mungantiwar’s suggestion, Shelar said the government would consider forming a committee including MLAs to propose necessary amendments. “Let’s make the law so strong that no one dares to indulge in such behavior in the future,” Mungantiwar added.
Kharghar Not to Be Declared Liquor-Free Zone, Says Ajit Pawar
In a related development, the issue of declaring Kharghar a liquor-free zone was raised in the Assembly by BJP MLA Prashant Thakur. He highlighted that local villagers and the Panvel Municipal Corporation had passed resolutions demanding a ban on liquor in the region. However, Finance Minister Ajit Pawar made it clear that the demand could not be met under current laws.
Pawar explained that excise regulations differ for gram panchayats, municipal councils, and corporations. “Under existing law, an individual liquor shop can be shut down if 50% of voters in the concerned polling area oppose it, but an entire city like Kharghar cannot be declared liquor-free,” he clarified. He added that liquor licenses could be revoked only if the outlet causes a public nuisance, and that the state government had to act in accordance with established excise rules, not public sentiment alone.
