Won't reintroduce arrack, says CM

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah categorically ruled out the re-introduction of arrack in the State.

As part of the budget reply in the Legislative Council, Siddaramaiah said there is no question of bringing back legal extraction of arrack.?

“The media misrepresented my statements a few days ago. We are not re-introducing arrack in the State. We are not going to reverse the decision of the previous government,” said the chief minister.

Siddaramaiah said he had quoted C M Ibrahim’s statement, that earlier people would open a small pack of arrack which cost Rs 10 or Rs 12. The person would drink the arrack in one swig, have a bonda, and get home. After banning arrack, the same person has now switched over to IMFL and is buying a quarter bottle of the same. Since the liquor does not have the same effect as arrack, the person buys two quarters.

“Basically, IMFL has become much more of a poison than arrack. The opposition had said that it will wipe the tears of the women in the rural areas by banning arrack, when ironically there has been a three-fold increase in IMFL sales since banning it. Now this is what I quoted in the Assembly a few days back. That has been considered as government bringing back arrack. There is no arrack bhagya,” said Siddaramaiah.