-SATISH HANDA

New excise policy announced by Haryana state government in which steps have been taken to promote bar culture in the state also likely to bring challenge for police to maintain law and order. In this policy permission has been granted to beer bars, discotheque and pubs to remain open and serve liquor in three towns Panchkula, Gurugram and Faridabad in Haryana state till late night onward up to 3 a.m.as such owners of hotels, restaurants, beer bars and disco at Chandigarh and Mohali has strongly opposed the same since their business would suffer a lot since they are allowed to remain open and serve liquor till 1 a.m. They demand that they should also be permitted to remain open till 3 a.m. similar to new excise policy announced by Haryana state government recently and in case no action would be taken by Chandigarh and Punjab governments to announce new excise police like in Haryana state providing relaxation to operate business up to 3 a.m. they would be left with no alternative   except to shift or expand their business at Panchkula.

It may be recalled that Kiran Bedi retired IPS during her short tenure at Chandigarh in the year 2000 disallowed discos and beer bars to remain open after 10.30 p.m. after incidents of clashes in these places under the influence of liquor. When strongly opposed by the owners of disco and beer bars in City Beautiful Chandigarh administration allowed to operate till 11.30 p.m. when this correspondent had talked to different people including the owners of four popular disco then functioning at Chandigarh ‘Aerizzona Tide of Darkness’, ‘The Club at the Jail House Rock’,  ‘Cloud-9’ and ‘Las Vegas’. Surinder Singh owner of ‘Aerizzona Tide of Darkness introduced disco culture in the town said that we are not to be blamed for increasing crimes and ban over disco after 1 a.m. will not solve the problem of deteriorating law and order for which vulgar songs and obscene dances shown in the films and television are much more vulgar as compared to discos responsible for bad law and order.

Surinder Singh said discos do not corrupt people but only help to provide entertainment and administration should frame similar rules in tri-city Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula instead of clamping restrictions which is merely punishing disco owners at Chandigarh and Mohali. He said, we do not allow entry of a male in disco hall unless he is accompanied by a female partner to avoid any kind of messy incident. When talked to few families at Chandigarh, most of them were not in favour of  disco feeling that young generation may develop many nasty things like drinking and habit of drugs. They were of view adolescence is the most problematic stage where energy over rules the brain, thinking guided by the passion and emotions, agony being faced by the parents when they come to know about children drinking, smoking and taking drugs is unbearable. According to young couple staying in University hostel, a discotheque is just the place where we can conveniently forget all about burden of studies and mental tension and enjoy for an hour or two with someone we really like.

According to Arvinder Pal Singh, President of Chandigarh Hotel & Restaurants Association,, new excise police announced by Haryana state government should be modified in such a way having similar time for serving liquor in bars especially in tri-city otherwise hotel industry would be adversely affected in Chandigarh where license fee is also much higher for hotels. Information reveals that the owners of several disco and bars in Chandigarh  including Bomb Box Cafe, Tamzara and Arrizone introduced disco culture at Chandigarh years ago has decided to shift or expand their business at Panchkula after Haryana government has announced new excise policy likely to attract disco lovers

A information reveals that Chandigarh administration, too, is considering  to announce new excise policy in order to meet challenge by Haryana state government. It would also be a challenge before police department in Haryana to maintain late night law and order, since the incidents of firing between youth groups have been witnessed in disco and bars including Hotel North Park, Yavnika and few others at Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali in past.