<p>Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has come under attack from his own party leaders for permitting sale of liquor and pan masala.</p>.<p>At least half a dozen saffron party MPs and MLAs have openly criticised Adityanath for the decision and demanded the immediate closure of liquor shops.</p>.<p>''The purpose of the lockdown is to save human lives from COVID-19. It will be defeated by allowing sale of liquor, pan masala and gutkha,'' BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj said.</p>.<p>The leader questioned the rationale behind punishing spitting in public places when the sale of gutkha and pan masala had been allowed.</p>.<p>Another BJP MP Satyadeo Pachauri shot off a letter to the CM seeking closure of the liquor shops saying that social distancing was not being followed there.</p>.<p>Outspoken BJP MLA Surendra Singh said that the UP government should explore other options to generate income rather than allowing sale of liquor.</p>.<p>''It (liquor sale) will put lives of the people in danger. It cannot be justified on the pretext of revenue generation. It must be banned immediately,'' Singh said.</p>.<p>He heaped praise on Bihar CM Nitish Kumar (liquor is banned in Bihar) and asked Adityanath to the same.</p>.<p>BJP MLAs Nand Kishore Gujjar and Sunil Sharma also criticised the decision to open liquor shops and demanded their closure.</p>
<p>Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has come under attack from his own party leaders for permitting sale of liquor and pan masala.</p>.<p>At least half a dozen saffron party MPs and MLAs have openly criticised Adityanath for the decision and demanded the immediate closure of liquor shops.</p>.<p>''The purpose of the lockdown is to save human lives from COVID-19. It will be defeated by allowing sale of liquor, pan masala and gutkha,'' BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj said.</p>.<p>The leader questioned the rationale behind punishing spitting in public places when the sale of gutkha and pan masala had been allowed.</p>.<p>Another BJP MP Satyadeo Pachauri shot off a letter to the CM seeking closure of the liquor shops saying that social distancing was not being followed there.</p>.<p>Outspoken BJP MLA Surendra Singh said that the UP government should explore other options to generate income rather than allowing sale of liquor.</p>.<p>''It (liquor sale) will put lives of the people in danger. It cannot be justified on the pretext of revenue generation. It must be banned immediately,'' Singh said.</p>.<p>He heaped praise on Bihar CM Nitish Kumar (liquor is banned in Bihar) and asked Adityanath to the same.</p>.<p>BJP MLAs Nand Kishore Gujjar and Sunil Sharma also criticised the decision to open liquor shops and demanded their closure.</p>