Terming alcoholism as the root cause of the recent spate of crimes against women, noted social activist Swami Agnivesh today said he will launch a nationwide campaign next month to eliminate the evil.
The first phase of this campaign will be launched on May 1 from Basana town near Raipur in Chhattisgarh where the World Council of Arya Samaj emancipated 4,000 bonded labourers 25 years ago, its president Swami Agnivesh told reporters here.
The second phase of the movement will be launched from Jai Prakash Narain's birthplace at Sitabdiara in Bihar from May 7.
Noting that hanging the culprits of the Delhi gangrape incident or removal of a few police officials would not help the situation, he said it is time to combat alcoholism which is the root cause of growing crime against women.
"Ever since the Delhi gangrape incident occurred in December last year and the rape of a five-year-old girl in the capital earlier this month, people have been clamouring for execution of the culprits or suspension of a few police officials but this is not going to lead to an improvement in the situation. What we need to do is strike the very root of the problem which lies in alcoholism," Agnivesh said.
Accusing the state governments and the Centre of cheapening liquor, he said they were doing a great disservice to the nation by doing so.
Calling for a total ban on liquor he said, "We have to save the younger generation from falling into the trap of liquor and drug consumption to build a society in accordance with the vision of our freedom movement leaders like Mahatma Gandhi. But the state governments are vying with each other to lower the rates of liquor to encourage drinking in society."
It is time for a spiritual and moral regeneration which can be achieved only through a revival of the values that guided the country's freedom movement, he said.
