Hindu Janjagruti Samiti, a Hindu organisation, held an agitation at Azad maidan on Thursday, urging the government to declare December 31 as a dry day for the safety of citizens. “Every year on December 31, most youngsters of the city consume alcohol to celebrate the occasion, leading to accidents and crime. As crores of rupees are earned every year with the sale of alcohol, the government is not willing to declare it a dry day,” said Naresh Surve, a senior leader of the organisation.

The association said the rise in the number of accidents and rape cases on December 31 could be attributed to drunk youngsters. If the government refuses to declare December 31 a dry day, the association has threatened to carry out protests outside Mumbai’s prominent pubs on New Year’s Eve.

“We have been demanding a dry day on December 31 since seven years. We have not received a positive response from the government yet. We will protest if it is not approved this year,” added Surve.