Daman MP Offers Free Stay for Surat Tourists on New Year’s Eve

Daman : In a unique gesture to ensure the safety and comfort of Surat tourists celebrating New Year’s Eve in Daman, Umesh Patel, Member of Parliament (MP) from the union territory of Daman and Diu, has offered a free night stay at the Koli Samaj hall in Daman. This initiative aims to prevent tourists from returning home in an intoxicated state, thereby reducing the risks associated with drunk driving.

Patel, in a public statement, urged tourists from Surat and nearby regions of Gujarat to make use of the free accommodation offer. He stressed the importance of not traveling back home under the influence of alcohol, as many visitors often engage in celebratory drinking during their stay at Daman’s popular watering holes.

In his statement, Patel sharply criticized the Gujarat police for what he termed as harassment of tourists traveling between Daman and Gujarat. “The Gujarat police are harassing tourists who return from Daman in an inebriated state, using the excuse of prohibition laws,” said Patel. He went on to accuse the police of corruption, claiming that they were facilitating liquor smuggling between Gujarat and Daman. “Despite Gujarat’s prohibition laws, liquor is available in Surat and other cities. It’s not entering the state through pipelines or aerial drops—there’s a deeper issue with the Gujarat police,” Patel added.

Patel also pointed out the discrepancy in how the Gujarat police enforce the law. According to Patel, only the driver should be apprehended if found intoxicated, but the police tend to stop all passengers, resulting in unnecessary harassment. “The practice has become a means of extorting money from tourists,” he claimed.

To counter this, Patel has made his personal contact number available to tourists who wish to take advantage of the free accommodation. “I encourage all tourists to avoid driving back home on December 31. Instead, contact me for a safe and free stay at the Koli Samaj hall,” Patel concluded.