Karnataka mein Federation of Wine Merchant Associations ne 20 November ko statewide strike ka announcement kiya hai, jisme wo corruption aur government ke inaction ke khilaf apna protest dikhayenge. Ye protest pehle se chal raha hai aur ab liquor sellers ne statewide shops band karne ka faisla kiya hai.
General Secretary B. Govindaraja Hegde ne media se baat karte huve bataya ke ye strike state revenue per asar dalega aur kariban Rs 120 crore ka nuksan hoga. “Government ne hamare issues per dhyan nahi diya, isliye humne 20 November ko shops band rakhne ka faisla kiya hai,” Hegde ne kaha. Isi din Freedom Park mein ek bada protest bhi organize kiya jayega.
Hegde kehte hai ke liquor sellers ko excise officials se
rishvat maangne ki wajah se harass kiya ja raha hai, aur fake liquor ki bikri bhi corruption ki wajah se badh gayi hai. Unhone Chief Minister Siddaramaiah aur Excise aur Police Departments ko request kiya hai ke ek comprehensive meeting bulayein taaki in issues ko address kiya ja sake. Saath hi, unhone suggestion diya ke Excise Department ko Finance Department ke saath merge kiya jaaye.
Hegde ne kuch allegations ko bhi refute kiya aur clarify kiya ke unke association ne Governor ko koi letter nahi bheja hai. Unhone bataya ke wo letter ek RTI activist ne likha tha aur Excise Department mein Rs 700 crore ke corruption ka jo claim Prime Minister Narendra Modi ne rally mein kiya tha, wo sach nahi hai.
Association ne apne teen main demands rakhe hain: police interference aur unnecessary license suspensions ko rokne ke liye clear guidelines, retail liquor sales per kam se kam 20% profit margin, aur CL-2 licensed premises mein alcohol consumption allow kiya jaye. Unhone CL-9 licensed areas mein additional counters allow karne aur liquor-beer parcels ki permission ke liye bhi amendments ki demand ki hai.
Doosre demands mein shamil hain:
- Licensed vendors ke liye penalties ko reduce karna aur unlicensed sellers ke liye penalties ko badhana.
- Dhabas, meat hotels aur gaon mein illegal liquor sales ko control karne ke liye strong legal action lena.
- Excise Act, Section 29 (2005) ka review aur amendments karna.
- MSIL licensing policies per fair decision lena.
- Military canteen stores, Goa imports aur fake duty-free liquor ke against strict action lena.
Karnataka ke liquor sellers apne demands ko lekar ekajut ho chuke hai aur state excise operations mein reform ke liye government se immediate action ki demand kar rahe hai.
