Ujjain, April 1 -- Mahamandleshwar Shanti Swaroopanand Ji Maharaj on Monday welcomed the Madhya Pradesh government's decision to ban liquor at 19 religious places in the state and said that the next step should be to declare Ujjain as a 'Pavitra Teerth' (Holy Pilgrimage).

"Ujjain is one of the 'Saptapuri' (seven sacred cities), Avantika. One of the 12 Jyotirlingas, Baba Mahakal, is present here. Singhasth Mahakumbh is organised here every 12 years and people from all over the world come here. I said earlier, too, that Ujjain should be declared as 'Pavitra Teerth, ' which would mean liquor and meat shops are banned. Now that the 1st step is taken and liquor is banned, it is a welcome move from CM Mohan Yadav... This should have been done ...