BANGALORE: Admitting that the state government was responsible for the increase in liquor sales in the state, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda said it is not possible to ban the sale of liquor completely.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the two-day round table conference organised by Karnataka State Temperance Board (KSTB) in association with Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi, National Service Scheme and Karnataka State Law University here on Wednesday.
Stopping the sale of liquor completely is not an easy task to do so as it involves revenue and will increase the sale of illicit liquor. Gowda also said that if the state government bans drinking liquor completely, there are many ‘hands’ that will encourage ‘illicit liquor’ in other ways.
There is a need to bring awareness among public in this regard, he said and applauded spiritual and religious leaders for spreading awareness among the public to some extent.
Shivakumara Swamiji of Siddaganga Mutt, Tumkur said that the government seems to not show any interest in banning liquor sales as it generates more revenue. He also said that when there is a government which is “expecting” more revenue from liquor, ban on selling liquor will be far from reality.
The seer also said that it is everybody’s responsibility to reform the society.
Murugendra Sharanaru, who was also present said that when the state government was making Gujarat a model for many of its initiatives, there is a need for the state to also see that Gujarat is a dry state.
Law and Paliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar, Murugarajendra swami of Chitradurga and KSTB president Sachidananda Hegde were present.