Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government has banned the sale of liquor in areas close to Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura.
The order comes into immediate effect from June 1, 2022. While the government has cancelled licences of alcohol shop owners in Ayodhya, 37 shops of beer, alcohol and bhang in areas surrounding the temples in Mathura have been shut down. Around three bars located in hotels and two model shops will also remain closed in Mathura from Wednesday, the India Today reported.
Traders have instead been asked to revive the milk industry in Mathura.
Last year, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath imposed a complete ban on the sale of liquor and meat near the pilgrimage sites in Mathura. Earlier, he had announced a ban on liquor shops and the sale of non-vegetarian food at all places of worship, such as Varanasi, Vrindavan, Ayodhya, Chitrakoot, Deoband, Dewa Sharif, Misrikh-Naimisharanya.