The majority of Surlakars want to stop the sale of liquor in their village. Who has given the villagers the right to stop some people from drinking alcohol if they want to drink it? Is it God? Is it a self-given right? Or is it going to be on a case-by-case scenario?
Has Surla been elevated to the status of a State? A state can, and some states have banned the sale of alcohol as in Gujarat, Kerala and a few others where no one is allowed to drink liquor. But I have never heard of a case where people in a village have the right to stop others from drinking alcohol in their village. Is this a first? If some people want prohibition of alcohol in their village they are free not to drink themselves; it is not their right to take on the roles of religionists, policemen and, worst of all, judges of the law. No one is forcing you to drink so please don't force anyone not to drink. Don't get carried away. Where do we draw the line? We should not overstep our rights and step on the toes of our fellow citizens. That is bad manners, and a way of sowing the seeds for further discord among the villagers. It is a social fire which could spread all over Goa as it is a deadly misplaced moral force which does not respect the rights of others. Only the self-righteous have rights? Today, it is alcoholic drinks and tomorrow it will be food, fashion, and who knows what. Someone will object to mutton, someone else to chicken, and another to lamb and other meats. Where will it end? Maybe, a dispute of this nature can only end in great violence, human violence and loss of lives. Is it worth it? It will also weaken the social fabric of the state and might even lead to communal violence. We need to remind these people we are living in a democracy in case they have forgotten or are suffering from the side effects of imbibing too much of formalin-laced fish and other chemicals. They should be warned of the fatal disease known as self-righteousness. When there are a hundred and one problems in India waiting to be solved, does it make sense to pour oil on fire? No, of course it doesn't! A sickly anti-national attitude of some people will only weaken the economy of our country, trample on our fundamental rights, and damage traditional institutions and our age-old culture of tolerance and respect for the rights of others. Alcohol, no doubt, can be dangerous. So, no one should drink and drive!
