BJP demands action against excise DC for violating rules

A section of BJP legislators from Bangalore has once again demanded action against Manjunath, deputy commissioner of excise (Bangalore South), for permitting liquor shops to open in some localities as early as 6 am, in violation of the rules.

Raising the issue in the Legislative Assembly on Friday, BJP member M Satish Reddy alleged that the deputy commissioner had allowed liquor shops in his constituency Bommanahalli to open as early as 6 am.

“We raised this issue thrice in the House. Still no action has been taken. Why is the DC allowing certain liquor shops in my constituency to remain open beyond the stipulated time?”

Joining the issue, his party colleague S Suresh Kumar questioned the urgency to open liquor shops in the morning even before the coffee shops. The BJP’s another MLA, S R Vishwanath, suggested that it appeared that the deputy commissioner earned a “fixed monthly income” for allowing the shops to violate rules. He urged the government to transfer the officer.

Law Minister T B Jayachandra read out a written reply by Excise Minister Satish Jarkiholi, which explained the rules on issuing licences to liquor shops.

Members enraged

This enraged the BJP members who demanded that the government explain why no action was taken even after the Lokayukta raided the officer and he was sent to jail. Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa tried to end the debate with his sardonic suggestion: “It is ‘kalluballi vichara’ (an umbilical cord relationship).” The officer in question is said to be a close relative of a Cabinet minister.