- By Deeksha Gour
- Fri, 15 Nov 2024 10:52 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Karnataka News: The Federation of Wine Merchant Associations has announced that liquor sales in Karnataka will be suspended on November 20 as part of an ongoing protest against alleged government corruption and the neglect of their concerns. The federation has been voicing its grievances for over a week, claiming that the government has failed to address their issues.
The New Indian Express report quoted General Secretary B. Govindaraja Hegde as stating that the decision to close shops will result in an estimated loss of around Rs 120 crore to the state exchequer. "Our demands have been ignored and as a result, we have chosen to halt liquor sales on November 20. This protest is also aimed at raising awareness of the corruption within the excise department," he said during a media briefing.
On the same day, a protest will be held at Freedom Park, where Hegde plans to highlight the ongoing harassment faced by liquor sellers from excise officials, who he claims are demanding bribes. He also pointed out an increase in the sale of counterfeit liquor, which he attributes to corrupt practices among these officials. Hegde called for a meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, along with representatives from the Excise and Police Departments, to resolve these pressing issues. He suggested that the Excise Department should be merged with the Finance Department for better oversight.
Addressing misconceptions, Hegde clarified that no member of their association wrote to the Governor of Karnataka regarding corruption allegations. Instead, an RTI activist submitted the letter. He refuted claims made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a rally in Maharashtra regarding Rs 700 crore in alleged corruption within the Excise Department, stating that this assertion is unfounded.
Hegde Outlined 3 Key Demands From Association
The government should issue clear directives to the Excise Department to limit police interference and prevent unnecessary license suspensions.
Retail liquor sales should ensure a minimum profit margin of 20 per cent.
Alcohol consumption should be allowed in CL-2 licensed premises. He also advocated for amending laws to permit liquor-beer parcels and to only allow additional counters in CL-9 licensed locations.
Other demands include reducing conciliation penalties for general prosecutions against licensees, increasing penalties for unlicensed sellers and enforcing stricter regulations to control liquor sales in dhabas and rural areas. Furthermore, they seek a review of Section 29 of the Excise Act, as amended in 2005 and fair decisions regarding the MSIL license. The association is also calling for strict action against military canteen stores, fake liquor sold as duty-free and smuggling operations involving counterfeit products.
