<p class="title">Former chief minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday suggested that the government can allow sale of liquor in green zones. </p>.<p class="bodytext">“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<br />reporters. </p>.<p class="bodytext">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. </p>.<p class="bodytext">“The government should announce a special package to protect those engaged in community-specific professions because the lockdown has affected their livelihood,” he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“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<br />said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>
<p class="title">Former chief minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday suggested that the government can allow sale of liquor in green zones. </p>.<p class="bodytext">“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<br />reporters. </p>.<p class="bodytext">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. </p>.<p class="bodytext">“The government should announce a special package to protect those engaged in community-specific professions because the lockdown has affected their livelihood,” he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“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<br />said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>
