Health minister says alcohol ‘not intoxicant’

Punjab health minister Surjit Kumar Jyani expressed he does not consider alcohol an “intoxicant”, while simultaneously opening a rehabilitation centre.

The Punjab health minister said alcohol is not an “intoxicant”

The health minister made the remarks during a speech to open the de-addiction and rehabilitation centre at Theri village near Giddarbaha in the CM Parkash Singh Badal’s native district Mukstar.

Explaining his thoughts behind the comments, the Times of India reported Jyani said: “The liquor factories have complete approval of governments and licences are given to set them up.

“The liquor vends are auctioned or allotted through draws and under such circumstances we cannot call liquor an intoxicant.”

Former CLP leader Sunil Jakhar described Jyani’s comments as “unfortunate” and that he should have thought his actions through before stating such claims.

It comes at a time when villages in the state are banning vendors from their villages and closing down existing vendors still operating there.

Punjab strives to earn Rs 5,000 crore revenue from excise policy in the current financial year.