Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) [India], April 1 : Mahamandleshwar Shanti Swaroopanand Ji Maharaj on Monday welcomed the Madhya Pradesh government's decision to ban liquor at 19 religious places in the state and said that the next step should be to declare Ujjain as a 'Pavitra Teerth' (Holy Pilgrimage).
"Ujjain is one of the 'Saptapuri' (seven sacred cities), Avantika. One of the 12 Jyotirlingas, Baba Mahakal, is present here. Singhasth Mahakumbh is organised here every 12 years and people from all over the world come here. I said earlier, too, that Ujjain should be declared as 'Pavitra Teerth, ' which would mean liquor and meat shops are banned. Now that the 1st step is taken and liquor is banned, it is a welcome move from CM Mohan Yadav... This should have been done long ago... The next step should be to declare Ujjain as a 'Pavitra Teerth,' and both liquor and meat shops should be banned," Mahamandleshwar Shanti Swaroopanand Ji Maharaj told ANI.
Meanwhile, the Madhya Pradesh government outlined the liquor ban in 19 religious cities and gram panchayats of the state would be implemented from April 1.
This decision, announced by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, was approved by the Cabinet during a meeting held in Maheshwar, the city of Lokmata Ahilyabai, on January 24, 2025.
Following the recent decision, all establishments that sell alcoholic beverages, including liquor shops and bars, will be mandated to close their operations within the entire urban boundaries of several cities.
This includes Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar, Mandleshwar, Orchha, Maihar, Chitrakoot, Datia, Panna, Mandla, Multai, Mandsaur, and Amarkantak. Additionally, the closure will extend to the gram panchayat regions of Salkanpur, Kundalpur, Bandakpur, Barmankalan, Barmankhurd, and Linga.
From April 1, 2025, liquor will be completely prohibited in these 19 designated sacred urban and rural areas of the state.