From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Jun 18: Sale and consumption of liquor anywhere in Karnataka – be it in ordinary bars and restaurants or even in star hotels – will not be allowed beyond 11.30 pm.
Karnataka’s Excise Department has "dropped" the proposal mooted by Excise Minister M P Renukacharaya to extend the deadline from 11.30 pm till 2 am in the bars and restaurants of Star Hotels in Bangalore, Mangalore, Hubli, Mysore and other cities to start with and later extend it to all bars and restaurants across the State.
Renukacharya told reporters that the proposal had been dropped following a public outcry as also opposition from religious heads and from influential leaders within the ruling BJP.
The proposal was floated for generating public debate to elicit the vciews from the people as part of the exercise to help tourists and the influential lobby of star hotels, which were hosting lot of foreign and outside visitors, besides business delegations. It was also aimed at increasing the excise revenue collection.
As there was a lot of opposition to the proposal by various organisations and women’s groups, the Department has decided to "temporarily" drop the plan to extend the timings from 11.30 pm to 2 am, the minister said.
The minister had been publicly ticked off by his senior cabinet colleague and Home Minister Dr V S Acharya, who had categorically asserted that there was no such proposal before him or the Government.
"I have discussed the issue with the Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and he is also not in favour of such a proposal,” Dr Acharya had declared.
However, Renukacharya, who refused to concede defeat, indicated that he has asked the Excise Commissioner to submit a report on the pros and cons the proposal on extension of the timings in cities.
The minister explained that the Excise Department had contemplated the idea in the interest of tourists. As a large number of business delegations and tourists visits cities and hold their sessions till late in the evening and the visitors or delegates reside in star hotels, the extended timings would benefit owners of bars and restaurants.
"There is no problem to the common man. The ordinary and even middle class people do not go to star hotels for alcohol consumption,’’ he said.
He argued that law and order problems would not arise even if timings were extended in the star hotels.