Bengaluru: To draw the attention of the Chief Minister to fulfill their various demands in particular to check corruption in the excise department, members of Federation of Wine Merchants Association Karnataka on Tuesday called for a bandh on sale of liquor across the State on November 20.
In Karnataka, as many as 12,500 liquor shops including 3,500 of them in Bengaluru will remain shut on the bandh day, said Guruswamy, president of Federation of Wine Merchants Association Karnataka and stated the bandh call is to save liquor trade.
Meanwhile, sources said a social activist Ajit petitioned the Governor over alleged corruption in the excise department.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Federation president Guruswamy clarified the Federation wrote letters to Chief Minister, Minister for Excise, Chief Secretary among others over affairs in the excise department and sought their intervention to resolve problems/issues of liquor sellers.
The Federation president said the main demands of the members has been to bring the Excise department under the ambit of the Finance Ministry and stated the excise department functioned well when it was under Finance Ministry but since the creation of a separate ministry for excise led to problems for liquor sellers.
Guruswamy wanted a meeting to be chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to resolve various problems/issues in the excise department particularly corruption.
According to the Federation president, observing bandh on November 20th will be their last effort to get their demands conceded and if the bandh does not evoke positive response from the State Government, he warned to knock on the doors of office of the Governor/ Central Bureau of Investigation and Karnataka Lokayukta.
On the prevalence of corruption in the excise department, Guruswamy pointed to 8 Excise Deputy Commissioners given no postings. These DCs have not been given posting because they refused to pay “bribe” for the placements and in the absence of DCs, Excise Superintendents have been made incharge DCs.
“There is corruption for shifting (shops), renewal of licences, change of names among others,” he alleged and stated Chief Minister Siddaramaiah might not be aware of such happenings in the excise department.
