Lucknow: After a crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses and a controversial, but popular, campaign against ‘Romeos’ in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has now banned alcohol at pilgrimage places and ordered the formation of a new excise policy.

The decision comes after the recent order by the Supreme Court, banning liquor shops along the highways. According to UP government, 8,544 alcohol shops have been shifted across the state after the court order.

Now, the CM has decided to close down alcohol shops at pilgrimage hubs like Vrindavan, Ayodhya, Chitrakootdham, Mishrikh Naimisharanya, Piran Kaliyar, Deva Sharif and Deoband.

According to the state government, there is no place for alcohol at religious places which are visited by pilgrims throughout the year. Ayodhya and Chitrakoot are associated with Ram, while Vrindavan is a sacred place for devotees of Krishna. Misrikh Naimisharanya in Sitapur district is another pilgrimage place for Hindus.

Deoband is the seat of leading Islamic seminary Darul-Uloom, while Dewa Sharif has the mausoleum of Sufi saint Waris Ali Shah. Piran Kaliyar Sharif on the UP-Uttarakhand border has the dargah of Sufi saint Alauddin Ali Ahmed Sabir Kaliyar. These mausoleums are visited by Muslims and Hindus alike.

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According to government, the new excise policy will focus on keeping a check on smuggling of alcohol from other states. During a presentation by Excise Department, the CM asked for a list of ‘loyal’ and ‘clean’ officers for sensitive posts.

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