Liquor in Mumbai Coldplay concert: Congress wants Maharashtra govt to clarify stand

The Congress on Monday said the state should clarify whether it will allow liquor to be served during the performance of British rock band Coldplay as part of the Global Citizen Festival at Bandra-Kurla Complex next week. It has also demanded an audit of the entire event.

The Congress on Monday said the state should clarify whether it will allow liquor to be served during the performance of British rock band Coldplay as part of the Global Citizen Festival at Bandra-Kurla Complex next week. It has also demanded an audit of the entire event.

Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said the organisers have requested the government to allow them to serve liquor during the Coldplay concert in Mumbai. (Photo: Getty Images)

Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said the organisers have requested the government to allow them to serve liquor during the event. “The Maharashtra government is a co-partner of the event and has given hefty tax exemptions in terms of entertainment duty and rate for the venue. The organizer has held several such events across the globe, but none of the host governments have played the role of a co-partner or allowed free flow of liquor. If the Maharashtra government claims the theme of the programme is poverty eradication, it should clarify what message it wants to spread among youngsters by allowing booze at the event,” he said.

He said although his party was not against the event, the financial audit of the entire event should be conducted. “The event has been given exemption from entertainment duty. The people of the state have the right to get details of the expenditure and the revenue generated,” he said.