New Delhi, Mar 27 (IANS): The Haryana government has ordered closure of all liquor vends across the state amid the nationwide lockdown in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

After the nationwide lockdown was announced from the midnight of March 24, the liquor vends were allowed to open in Haryana, till now.

A senior state government official said: "The vends were ordered to close from Thursday midnight and strict action would be taken against those not following orders."

During the lockdown an exception had been made for essential services only. Given this and the fact that restaurants, beer bars and pubs had been closed, opening of liquor vends in Gurugram, Rohtak, Faridabad, and Sonepat had raised many an eyebrows.

Congress leader Deepender Hooda had said: The Haryana government is playing with the health of people by letting liquor vends open amid the 21-day lockdown due to coronavirus scare. With whose backing is such an arrangement been continuing? Those in the government should rise above self-interests and work for national interests."