Delhi government says media reports on reducing the number of ‘dry days’ in delhi is wrong

Barely hours after _The Indian Express_ carried a report on the Delhi government’s proposed excise policy to reduce the number of ‘dry days’ in Delhi to just three days, the Aam Aadmi Party

government has hit back. In its rejoinder to the media, Delhi government said, “There is NO official government proposal to reduce the number of dry days.” Terming the report as a deliberate

attempt to “defame” the elected government, it further added: “Delhi government has taken a serious note of the rumours being spread by vested interests about reduction in dry days and has

expressed its strong disapproval on this issue.” According to _The_ _Indian Express_, the new excise policy in order to boost tourism in Delhi will also reduce the drinking age for

foreigners. According to Section 23 of Delhi Excise Act 2009, the current selling and drinking age in Delhi is 25 years. The report is primarily based on an unnamed “senior official” in the

Delhi government. The Delhi government in its rejoinder has claimed that there is “NO” proposal to change the existing age limit under the Excise Act, “for either Indian citizens or foreign

nationals residing in the national capital.” When contacted, _Indian Express _reporter Pragya Kaushika said, “I have nothing to comment on this. I stand by my story”.