Senior Congress leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday stated in the Assembly that the State exchequer will suffer no loss following a ban on arrack.

This is because most of those who used to consume arrack earlier have now switched over to Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) after the ban.

Participating in the debate on demand for grants, Mr Siddaramaiah said that it was evident from the sales figure of IML for the July month.

“Earlier on an average 12 lakh cases of IMFL (each case contains 48 quarter bottles) used to be sold per month. This month’s figure indicate that more than 28 lakh cases would be sold. So what is the impact of the ban on the public?”, he asked.

Further, Mr Siddaramaiah alleged that after the ban many illicit arrack manufacturing units have sprung up in many parts of the State.

“There are reports that illicit arrack sachets are being sold in broad day light in Holenarasipura”, he added.
When Mr Siddaramaiah dared Mr Yediyurappa to introduce a total prohibition in the State if he was really committed to ameliorating the condition of  the poor, Mr Yediyurappa at once expressed his readiness if the House desired so.

However, he immediately amended his statement saying “if the Parliament arrives at a decision on the issue, the State is ready to introduce total prohibition”.

Mr Siddarmaiah strongly criticised the State government for auctioning the government land around Bangalore for mobilising resources.

Describing the act as violation of the Land Reforms Act, Mr Siddaramaiah called for stopping it at once.
Further, alleging that there was no transparency in the land auctioned so far, Mr Siddaramaiah sought an inquiry into it.

He also took the government to task for an increase in non-plan expenditure.

“The expenditure which was Rs 25,515 crore during 2004-05 came down to Rs 23,586 crore during 2005-06. But during 2006-07, it has risen to Rs 28,831 crore. Where will the fiscal discipline be if the non-plan expenditure goes up?”, he asked.