[Assam] A parallel government on march in Assam? Reporter, don’t you know how many movie theatres have closed down in Assam being unable to show the Hindi movies?

[Bartta Bistar]

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     *Ulfa curfew on Assam liquor shops*

* *

*http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061004/asp/nation/story_6824255.asp*

A STAFF REPORTER

*Guwahati, Oct. 3:* Playing moral police, the banned Ulfa has come up with a
set of "regulatory guidelines" for wine shops across Assam.

The outfit has asked owners of wine shops not to open their outlets before 7
pm on weekdays. On Sundays, shops can be opened only after 2 pm.

Ulfa has also asked wine shops not to sell liquor to students.

The strictures were mentioned in an article in the Ulfa mouthpiece *
Swadhinata.*

The outfit cited the trend of unruly behaviour among youths under the
influence of liquor as the reason for clamping such regulations.

The outfit had previously banned screening of Hindi films for allegedly
portraying vulgarity.

Ulfa clarified that its guidelines for wine shops should not be construed as
an attempt to interfere with the tradition of drinking of home-brewed wine.
But consumption of excessive alcohol should not be encouraged, it said.

Ulfa said some urgent steps to regulate both sellers and consumers of
alcohol were needed to prevent alcoholism in society. It appealed to people
to cooperate in implementing its directive.

The outfit also accused the Centre of encouraging social menaces such as
alcoholism with the "ulterior motive of crippling the society."

Recently, the outfit decided to levy taxes on "Indians" living and working
in Assam and sought "voluntary" donations from the indigenous population.

The wine directive has, however, not been received with much seriousness by
shop-owners and officials of the excise department. They believe the diktat
will meet with the same fate as the Ulfa-imposed ban on Hindi films.

"Except for cheap publicity, such restrictions never help in addressing the
real issue. Many states have been declared dry, but they have failed to
prevent people from drinking," an excise department official said.

He said the restrictions would only boost the black market in liquor. "If
somebody wants to have a drink before shops open at 7 pm, he will have it
even if he has to pay more for it."

The owner of a wine shop in Ulubari said Ulfa's directive was irrational
and, if implemented, would direct revenue to neighbouring Meghalaya.
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