No new liquor shops in state, says HDK

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Wednesday said the government had no proposal to open new liquor shops in the state and that he had not given any directions to Excise officials in this regard.

Addressing mediapersons here, the chief minister said, “There are rumours that I have given permission to open new liquor shops, which is not true. The media has been unnecessarily creating an issue over the proposal submitted in 2015-16, during the previous government,” he said.

Kumaraswamy said that the government will deposit money with the nationalised banks for farm loan waiver from November 1.

The chief minister said that a meeting would be held with legal experts to review the Supreme Court’s order on reservations in promotions for SC/ST employees. The advocate general would be directed to implement the directions of the court, he said.

The chief minister said the government was planning to frame a law to prevent farmer suicides. He said, Nandish, a farmer from Sunkathonnuru in Pandavarpura taluk, had taken the extreme step in a hurry. Kumaraswamy said he had directed the district incharge minister and the deputy commissioner to look into their problems.

“The government has sanctioned Rs 7 lakh compensation to Nandish’s family,” the chief minister said.

Mysuru-Kodagu MP Prathap Simha met Kumaraswamy and PWD Minister H D Revanna here on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters, Simha said he met the chief minister and Revanna to discuss the 10-lane highway project between Mysuru and Bengaluru, as it was delayed.