India, July 14 -- Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday clarified the government has made a rule that no licences for liquor shops will be given without taking the legislature into confidence.

His remarks came after Opposition leaders including Nationalist Congress Party (SP) member Jitendra Awhad slammed the government for issuing 328 new liquor shop licenses across the state.

"We have made a rule that if licences for liquor shops in the state are to be granted, it should not be done without taking the legislature into confidence," said Pawar while speaking in Pune.

In other states, the number of liquor shop licences is increasing, but Maharashtra follows rules and acts in this matter systematically, he said.

"Our approach is di...