Atishi questions UP government over ‘buy 1 get 1 free’ liquor offer, asks if ED would raid Yogi Adityanath

Atishi also asked whether the CBI and the ED would conduct a raid, considering the BJP had previously linked such liquor schemes to corruption.

Published on: Mar 26, 2025, 21:31:08 IST

By HT News Desk | Edited by Shivam Pratap Singh

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Leader of opposition (LoP) in the Delhi Legislative Assembly Atishi on Wednesday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the 'Buy 1 Get 1 Free' offer at liquor stores in Uttar Pradesh.

AAP leader Atishi during a press conference. (Arvind Yadav/Hindustan Times)

The Aam Aadmi Party leader also questioned Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath's government over viral videos showing large crowds at liquor stores due to the offer.

"In various states of BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh, be it Noida or Meerut or Muzaffarnagar, there are viral videos on social media that show a huge crowd at liquor stores, there is utter chaos, and stampedes are occurring. Why? Under Buy 1 Get 1 free, Yogi ji's government is providing one bottle of liquor free on the purchase of one bottle. We saw the videos on social media that people are falling on each other to enter shops," ANI quoted Atishi as saying.

The former Delhi chief minister questioned if the Yogi Adityanath government had implemented the policy with the approval of the central leadership.

"I would like to ask the BJP whether it wants to make people of UP and people in adjoining states alcoholics. I would like to ask the central leadership of the BJP whether Yogi ji is implementing 'Buy 1 Get 1 free' with your approval," she added.

A policy similar to Delhi

The Delhi government under AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal had opted for a similar offer under the now-discontinued liquor policy in the state; a few years ago. The BJP, which was then in the opposition, had opposed the policy, with party workers demonstrating on the streets of the national capital. Atishi, who is now the leader of the opposition in Delhi, questioned whether the city state’s ruling party would take to the streets to oppose the situation in Uttar Pradesh.

Atishi also asked whether the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) would conduct a raid, considering the BJP had previously linked such liquor schemes to corruption.

"If this is not happening with your approval, will the BJP protest against it? The BJP had said that 'Buy 1 Get 1 Free' means corruption, that it indicates a major scam. So, when will there be a CBI-ED raid at Yogi ji's office?" Atishi questioned.

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