The Times of India, 12 June 2009
Moral policing comes to Hyderabad
by Sarah Salvadore
Is the city going the Mangalore way? Hyderabad Times gets reactions to health minister Danam Nagender’s statement, that pubbing is ‘obscene’ and
Hyd’s watering holes face flak
PUB SHOTS: Hyd’s watering holes face flak
‘against our culture’
It’s moral policing yet again. And this time pubs in Hyderabad have come in the line of fire. State health minister, Danam Nagender, is all set to take steps to ensure that city pubs shut shop soon. The minister says on record that pubbing is “against our culture”, “obscene” and also feels pubs “encourage” the usage of drugs. While the minister seems all set to take action against this un-Indian phenomenon, pub owners and pub regulars seem baffled at the minister’s comments.
Dheeraj Keswani, director Extreme and Excess sees no reason why there should be a crackdown. “We are abiding by the rules of the state. If we were to operate outside the confines of the law, then the government would have every right to crack down,” he says. Phani, operations in-charge, Sixth Element, shares the same opinion. “We have always followed the law. A crackdown seems unfair.”
While the minister blames pubs for encouraging the usage of narcotics, many feel that the minister should refrain from making such comments without knowing the actual facts. “If the health minister has proof about drugs doing the rounds in pubs then he should get the drug enforcement in place and investigate as to how it gets there in the first place,” suggests Janaki, director, Venom. “Blaming all pubs and threatening to shut them down will not help,” she adds.
Actor Sushanth, who pubs to unwind with friends, feels that the minister’s comments are uncalled for. “I go out with my pals to unwind and relax at pubs. Till date I have not seen anyone doing drugs in pubs. It’s silly to think people will do drugs openly in public places,” he quips.
Obscenity in pubs seems another point of concern for the minister, which was tut-tuted by many. “All we do is organise innovative events to entertain guests. There is definitely no obscenity involved,” says Sanjay Batla, MD, Bottles n Chimneys. Actor Raja, however, believes there is no smoke without fire. “All kinds of people go pubbing. I have seen a small section of guests who tend to get overboard and act irresponsibly. But then stopping others from having fun just because of some people is not done,” he avers.
However, some are feeling the heat. Many fear that the comments could actually result in a loss of business. “Parents might be wary of sending their kids to the pubs after all these reports,” says Janaki. “It’s definitely a huge cause of concern for us. There are so many people employed in pubs and nightclubs. Clamping down pubs means these people will lose their jobs. When the job market is bad, it’s difficult for them to find another job soon,” says Suresh K Dogra, manager operations, Rattle n Hum.
Even as the state health minister makes his intentions clear on imposing ‘strict enforcement of rules’, revellers are hoping Hyderabad doesn’t go the Bangalore and Mangalore way.
|
