Former chief minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday suggested that the government can allow sale of liquor in green zones.
“Merely because there is an economic slowdown in the state, I don’t recommend that alcohol should be allowed to be sold. But, wherever there are green districts, they can open (liquor sale) with certain restrictions, I think,” Siddaramaiah, the Leader of the Opposition, told
reporters.
Siddaramaiah was speaking after holding talks with representatives of various communities and groups - Savita Samaja, Hadapada Samaja, weavers, Kummaras, Ganigas, Kuruhina Shetty, tribals, Kuluva, tourist taxi owners, drivers, construction labourers and others.
“The government should announce a special package to protect those engaged in community-specific professions because the lockdown has affected their livelihood,” he said.
“It’s been more than a month under lockdown and the lives of these people have reached a worrisome stage. Those living in rural areas are struggling to eat even one meal a day,” he
said.
The Congress has convened a meeting of all Opposition parties on Thursday to discuss the lockdown and its impact on farmers, labourers, the middle-class and other sections of the society. Siddaramaiah said leaders from the JD(S), JD(U), CPI, CPI(M), BSP and farmers’ groups will attend the meeting.