The Delhi government’s reported launch of an app allowing residents to book liquor from nearby wine shops has triggered a political confrontation, with the Aam Aadmi Party demanding that the scheme be withdrawn and seeking the removal of minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa.
AAP Delhi unit president Saurabh Bharadwaj criticised the initiative in a social media post and warned that the party would seek Sirsa’s dismissal if the scheme was not withdrawn. He also said the party would organise a major protest in Delhi if the government continued with the plan.
According to the report, the app is intended to allow users to book liquor online from a nearby wine shop. The supplied material does not provide details about the app’s technical platform, participating retailers, delivery or collection process, licensing safeguards, or the date on which the service became operational.
Speaking to the Press Trust of India, Bharadwaj questioned the government’s decision to introduce the facility and accused Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s administration of showing excessive concern for alcohol consumers. He also alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party government had renamed initiatives introduced by the previous AAP administration.
Bharadwaj referred to the renaming of AAP-era schools and electric buses while criticising the liquor booking initiative. He suggested several names for the scheme, including “Chief Minister Ghar Baitho Sharab Book Karo Yojana”, “Rashtravaadi Sharab Sangh Yojana”, “Sanatani Sharab Yojana”, “Sharab Ki Baat” and “Sharab First”.
The AAP leader said the government should formally name the scheme and place the chief minister’s photograph on the portal through which residents could book liquor from home. His remarks were framed as a challenge to the Delhi government to withdraw what he described as an ambitious initiative.
In a video issued earlier on Wednesday, Bharadwaj gave the government 24 hours to withdraw the scheme. He warned that the AAP and Delhi residents would launch a large protest if the government did not comply, and said the party would not allow the government to function normally if the plan continued.
The supplied report does not include a response from the Delhi government, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, the excise department or the operator of the reported app. It also does not establish whether the service is available across Delhi, whether it involves home delivery or collection from retailers, or what regulatory conditions apply. The next stated development is the AAP’s threatened protest and its demand that the scheme be withdrawn within the deadline announced by Bharadwaj.
