The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalis Congress Party NCP (SP) leader Jitendra Awhad on Sunday slammed the Maharashtra government's liquor policy, alleging it would drive the state, which he described as a "land of saints," into alcoholism and cause distress to lakhs of families, reported news agency PTI.

Addressing a press conference, Jitendra Awhad claimed the BJP-led Mahayuti government is planning to issue licences for 328 new liquor shops across the state to "cope with the financial burden of schemes like Ladki Bahin Yojana (under which women are given monthly aid of Rs 1500 under certain conditions)."

"This liquor-driven policy to fill an empty treasury is a betrayal of families. To pay the Ladki Bahin (beloved sister), this government will cheat brothers, husbands, and fathers. The Devendra Fadnavis government will go down in history for selling alcohol licences instead of preserving public health," he asserted.