Former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi on Tuesday defended the now-scrapped New Liquor Policy, arguing that the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report has actually exposed corruption under the previous excise system. Her remarks came after the CAG report, tabled in the Delhi Assembly by CM Rekha Gupta, claimed that the liquor policy led to a staggering ₹2,002 crore loss to the national capital’s exchequer.
Atishi, countering the BJP’s criticism, claimed that the people of Delhi suffered financial losses because liquor was being smuggled into the city from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, bypassing the official excise system.
AAP vs BJP: The Liquor Policy War Continues
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on the other hand, seized on the report to attack AAP, stating that it “exposed the black deeds” of former CM Arvind Kejriwal and his administration.
Atishi, however, insisted that the CAG report confirmed AAP’s earlier claims that corruption in the liquor trade existed even before the new policy.
“This report shows that more than 28% of corruption was being done by contractors, and the money was going into the pockets of brokers. Black marketing of liquor was rampant, and everyone knew which political party was benefiting from liquor contracts,” she alleged.
CAG Report: Key Findings
Massive Revenue Loss: The report pointed to a ₹2,002 crore loss due to a weak policy framework and mismanagement.
Corruption in Liquor Sales: It highlighted that liquor contractors manipulated cost calculations to maximize profits.
Black Marketing and Political Nexus: The report noted that illegal liquor trade flourished under the old policy.
The new liquor policy, introduced by AAP, was scrapped in 2022 after Delhi LG VK Saxena ordered a probe into alleged corruption. While AAP claims it was meant to streamline the system, BJP insists it was a scam to benefit private players.