JOIN USPresiding over a conference of Janajagruthi Vedike office-bearers organised by Udupi and DK Janajagruthi Vedike and SKDRDP here in Udupi, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanthi, he said the government should continuously organise awareness programmes to see that its liquor ban is enforced effectively.
“Liquor-free society is our goal. It is not the target of making the entire nation liquor-free at a time. It is a phased-mission. The Janajagruthi Vedike is continuously striving to make this a success. A total of 295 de-addiction camps have already been conducted. Those who opposed us in the beginning, are supporting us now,” he said.
Paryaya Putthige seer Sugunendrateertha Swamiji, who inaugurated the event, said the government should totally ban liquor and cigarettes.
“It is not fair when government produces liquor on the one hand and bans it on the other. Hence it should prohibit liquor completely. It should not mind even though the prohibition affects its exchequer. It should look for alternative sources of revenue,” he observed.
Home Minister and District-in-Charge Dr V S Acharya said the government banned lottery and arrack in 2007.
Special squad
Separate squads have been constituted in the excise department to check the sale of illicit liquor. The squads are functioning at 39 places. As many as 2,094 cases have been detected so far, he informed.
MLAs Raghupathi Bhat, Lalaji R Mendon, CMC President Dinakar Shetty, Sri Kshethra Dharmasthala Rural Development project Executive Director Dr L H Manjunath, Devadas Hebbar, Saja Radhakrishna Alva, K Mahaveera Ajri and others were present.