NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata party on Saturday trained guns at Aam Aadmi Party, accusing it of committing liquor scam which led to huge revenue loss to the state
Citing the leaked pages of the CAG report, BJP said that the excise policy brought by the AAP-led Delhi government inflicted a loss of over RS 2,026 crore on the exchequer.
During a press conference, Union minister Anurag Thakur said, “The financial year 2025 has seen a liquor scam resulting in a deficit of 2026 crore in the treasury. Remember, the Aam Aadmi Party promised to build schools, but instead, liquor shops were opened. They spoke of cleanliness but ended up with liquor; they talked about good governance but turned to alcohol. This ten-year journey is filled with scams and sins. A government with eight ministers, fifteen legislators, and one MP in jail, including the deputy chief minister and chief minister, is unprecedented in post-independence India. The need for their departure is crucial.”
“During the COVID crisis in Delhi, when there was a shortage of oxygen and facilities, the common man was suffering while the Aam Aadmi Party was busy weaving the liquor scam. The liquor shops that replaced schools were opened by a minister involved in the scam, not an education minister. ,” he added.
Thakur termed former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal as the kingpin of the alleged scam and said that the exice policies weren’t presented before the assembly for ratification.
“If there’s a kingpin of the liquor scam, it’s Arvind Kejriwal. If someone caused a 2026 crore deficit, it’s Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party. Excise rules weren’t presented before the assembly for ratification. These major findings by CAG are not from any political party but from an institution that ensures accountability and governance,” Thakur said.
“If the LG asked to present the C&A reports in the assembly, what compelled CM Atishi to hide the Aam Aadmi Party’s sins and not table the report? Whether it’s the Sheesh Mahal or the liquor scam, the money earned from these is mentioned here,” he added.
Asked about the BJP allegations, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said, “Where is the report? The BJP itself keeps saying no CAG report has been tabled.”
Meanwhile, BJP’s national president JP Nadda also targeted Kejriwal and said that AAP is “intoxicated by power and high on misgovernance”
In a social media post on X, Nadda said, “Intoxicated by power, high on misgovernance. ‘AAP’DA model of loot in full display and that too on something like liquor. Just a matter of a few weeks before they are voted out and punished for their misdeeds.”
“CAG Report on ‘Liquorgate’ exposes ArvindKejriwal and AamAadmiParty Gov. Intentional ‘Lapses’ in Policy Implementation. Rs 2026 Cr Loss to Exchequer money,” he added.
According to a report by the India Today, leaked pages of CAG report said that the former Delhi chief minister threw rules and regulations to the wind while drafting the controversial excise policy.
The ‘leaked’ CAG report said that the Delhi government committed gross violations like lack of transparency in pricing, violation in issue and renewal of licences, non-penalisation of violators, non-seeking of approval from the LG, Cabinet or the Assembly.
The exchequer lost around Rs 890 crore as the AAP government did not re-tender the surrendered retail liquor licences, the CAG report noted.
The government lost an additional Rs 941 crore due to the exemptions that had to be given to the zonal licencees, the report said.
The elections for the 70 Assembly seats will be held on February 5 and the results will be declared on February 8. In the current House, the AAP has 62 legislators and the BJP has 8.
