Noted social activist Dr Abhay Bang has said democracy is put on sale on the eve of voting as alcohol is freely distributed among voters in lieu of their votes.
He also made an appeal to candidates of political parties not to lure voters with alcohol, especially in Gadchiroli district.
"We are appealing to candidates not to use alcohol to lure men and make them intoxicated. We are also warning the political parties and their candidates that those who sell or distribute alcohol on the eve of voting will be boycotted. Voters will make sure that they lose the election," he was quoted as saying in a release on Friday.
Describing democracy as an aeroplane and voter as its pilot, Dr Bang said, "We don't want our pilot to be drunk when he is flying the plane on the day of voting."
"But unfortunately, it is widely observed and reported that alcohol is freely distributed on the eve of voting. Men get drunk and cast their vote. In fact, democracy is put on sale on the eve of voting- in exchange of a bottle of alcohol for a vote," he added.
"Voting with full consciousness is a duty as well as the right of voters and it is necessary for a healthy democracy," Dr Bang said in the release issued by Society for Education Action and Research in Community Health (SEARCH), an organisation founded by him.
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There is prohibition in Gadchiroli, Chandrapur and Wardha districts of Maharashtra.
Dr Bang is also an advisor of Muktipath, an organisation working for de-addiction.
Talking to PTI, Muktipath director Mayur Gupta said a resolution of 'no alcohol in election' was passed during a programme atArmori in Gadchiroli on Thursday, where residents of 70 villages were present.
Similar resolution will be passed in about 350 villages in coming days, he added.
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