On Friday, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut defended the Maharashtra government’s decision to allow the sale of wine at supermarkets and walk-in shops in the state. He also said that the move will double the benefit of farmers. “Wine is not liquor. If wine sale increases, farmers will get benefit from it. We’ve done this to double farmers’ income. BJP only opposes but does nothing for farmers” he said according to reports.

Currently, the state is allowing the sale of liquor only through liquor stores. Reports suggests that 65 per cent unit of the wine industry in the country is located in the state, with majority of them in Nashik, Sangil, Pune, Solapur, Bhudhana and Ahmednagar. However, Supermarkets which are located near places of worships and educational institutions could not sell wine which also has prohibition in some of the districts.

Wine is not liquor. If wine sale increases,farmers will get benefit from it.We’ve done this to double farmers’ income.BJP only opposes but does nothing for farmers: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on govt’s decision to allow sale of wine in supermarkets&walk-in stores in Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/zdCXgOStfl

— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2022

Meanwhile, opposition parties, including BJP have condemned the decision and said that the government was trying to promote liquor. “We will not allow Maharashtra to become Madya Rashtra (Liquor state)” said BJP leader and former Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. In his statement, he claimed that the Dhiva Sena-NCP-Congress government didn’t help people during the pandemic but prioritizes promoting liquor.

On seeing the statement of Sanjay Raut, a twitter used named Shivam Vahia came up with a doubt asking whether Mumbai Police will arrest him or not if he consume wine and drive a vehicle. “So if I drink wine and drive, will @MumbaiPolice put me behind bars or show me the nearest bar?” he sarcastically asked.

So if I drink wine and drive, will @MumbaiPolice put me behind bars or show me the nearest bar? https://t.co/NgBIdDAbIo

— Shivam Vahia (@ShivamVahia) January 28, 2022

Reacting to the same, the official Twitter handle of Mumbai Police which is known for its sarcastic replies to the public, said “Sir, we recommend your raise your bar & ride in a chauffeur driven car, after drinking, like a ‘responsible citizen’. Else if the breathalyzer detects the alcohol content in the wine you drank (which it will to be frank), you will have to be our guest behind the bars”

Sir, we recommend your raise your bar & ride in a chauffeur driven car, after drinking, like a ‘responsible citizen’.
Else if the breathalyzer detects the alcohol content in the wine you drank (which it will to be frank), you will have to be our guest behind the bars https://t.co/KS0WnOZ6pP

— Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) January 29, 2022

Check out some of the reactions the tweet of Mumbai Police received :

@MumbaiPolice please share this to Sanjay Raut and keep checking his car.

— Divya Jotwani (@DivyaJotwani) January 29, 2022

You guys are epic 😂 @chennaipolice_ please take note.☝️

— Sphinx (@sphinx676) January 29, 2022

Really appreciate the Humorous response. It’s conveying the correct message.

— Hiren Bafna (@hirenb9) January 29, 2022

Wow! What sense of humour! Have you hired a comedian to write your tweets? 😂

— Sheetal Albal (@sheetalalbal) January 29, 2022

Keep checking Sanjay Raut car 😂

— Narendra Rajput (@rananarya) January 29, 2022