 "BJP to approach EC on new excise policy in Uttarakhand")
The BJP has decided to lodge a complaint with the election commission against the Congress-led government in Uttarakhand for “quietly” changing the state excise policy in order to “generate election funds to the tune of crores of rupees”.
In the middle of election code, the government on March 29 issued an order stating that from June 2014, the wholesale foreign liquor (FL-2) would be sold only through two centres – one in Dehradun and other in Udhamsingh Nagar.
“Through this order, the government has stopped the transparent wholesale liquor policy where all the big companies were entitled to open their depots in the state. But now, the government has restricted the sale of foreign liquor through the two centres only. This also means that the government has made an under table agreement with some big liquor mafias on the lines of Uttar Pradesh,” said Leader of the Opposition Ajay Bhatt.
The new policy will also give rise to smuggling of the various liquor brands, the sale of which will be not allowed under the new policy, said Bhatt. “Moreover, all this is being done to generate elections funds to the tune of crores of rupees,” he claimed.
Bhatt also demanded an apology from Chief Minister Harish Rawat for allegedly favouring liquor mafias. “If the Chief Minister doesn’t apologize, then he should better resign,” said Bhatt.
On the other hand, state Congress spokesman Rajiv Jain denied the charges leveled by Bhatt saying the government has not favoured anybody in the new excise policy. “All the charges leveled by Mr Bhatt are figment of imagination,” said Jain.
In the middle of election code, the government on March 29 issued an order stating that from June 2014, the wholesale foreign liquor (FL-2) would be sold only through two centres – one in Dehradun and other in Udhamsingh Nagar.
“Through this order, the government has stopped the transparent wholesale liquor policy where all the big companies were entitled to open their depots in the state. But now, the government has restricted the sale of foreign liquor through the two centres only. This also means that the government has made an under table agreement with some big liquor mafias on the lines of Uttar Pradesh,” said Leader of the Opposition Ajay Bhatt.
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Bhatt further alleged that the new policy would also harm the state’s revenue in a big way as the government used to get licence fees from over 40 companies in the previous policy.
The new policy will also give rise to smuggling of the various liquor brands, the sale of which will be not allowed under the new policy, said Bhatt. “Moreover, all this is being done to generate elections funds to the tune of crores of rupees,” he claimed.
Bhatt also demanded an apology from Chief Minister Harish Rawat for allegedly favouring liquor mafias. “If the Chief Minister doesn’t apologize, then he should better resign,” said Bhatt.
On the other hand, state Congress spokesman Rajiv Jain denied the charges leveled by Bhatt saying the government has not favoured anybody in the new excise policy. “All the charges leveled by Mr Bhatt are figment of imagination,” said Jain.