No increase in retirment age: Yediyurappa

Davanagere, Jan 14 (UNI) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa today ruled out possibility of increasing retirement age of the State government employees to 60 years from 58 years.

Talking to newsmen here, he said that "at this stage there is no proposal to increase the retirement age of State Government employees." Mr Yediyurappa said that the State government was committed to introduce prohibition on sale of arrack in the State. He admitted that prohibition may lead to widespread sale of illicit liquor in villages. The government would consider reducing the excise duty to control the illicit liquor. A separate squad would be set up to control sale of arrack. At present there are only 30,000 license holders for selling arrack, where as more than one lakh shops are illegally selling arrack.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that the government was contemplating to ban sale of Gutkha as was done in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh as per Supreme Court direction.

Mr Yediyurappa said that Tourism would be given top priority in the next budget.

Replying to a question whether the present BJP Ministers would continue after BJP takes over the Chief Minister post in October as agreed with coalition partner Janata Dal (Secular) or would be utilised for party work as announced by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy that his party Ministers would be utilised for party works, he said that party high command would take decision on the matter UNI