Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, May 10: Several organizations have urged chief minister B S Yediyurappa to close liquor shops in the state, citing health concerns and spike in cases of violence since their reopening.

Liquor shops in the state that reopened last week saw brisk business with scores of people queuing up to stock up on alcohol. The state's economy received a boost with Rs 45 crore worth of business on the very first day, but since the opening of the liquor stores, cases of drunken brawls and violence have been reported, and there has been a surge of coronavirus cases too.

File Photo

"It is not right on the part of the state government to have opened the liquor shops in order to earn revenue. They have to be closed immediately," urged enviornment experts, leaders of education, farmers, progressive and Dalit organizations in an appeal that was sent to CM B S Yediyurappa.

The letter written to the CM by the organizations states, "Lacs of families were happy due to the ban on liquor shops during the lockdown period. The health of people had improved by leaps and bounds. However, now the opening of liquor shops again has dampened the long-awaited expectations of the general public.

"Due to the decision of opening liquor shops in the state, the govenment itself has facilitated the faster spread of coronavirus pandemic in the state. Lockdown has lost its meaning. There is no doubt that people who have need to develop their immunity system during this crisis will become weak and get infected by the virus as their immunity will become weak by alcohol consumption. So the liquor shops throughout the state need to be closed immediately and the government should value the sentiments of general public."

Environmentalist Yellappa Reddy, Grama Seva Sangha member Prasanna, Raita Sangha member Kodihalli Chandrashekhar, Veerasangaiah, Karnataka province farmer association member Bayya Reddy, convener of Dalit Sangharsh Samiti Mavalli Shankar and other progressive organization leaders have extended their support to the appeal.