Congress terms Khanduri govt's new Excise Policy 'pro-liquor mafia'

Dehradun, May 10 (UNI) Terming the new excise policy in Uttarakhand as ''pro-liquor mafia'', the state Congress has threatened to commence an agitation against it from next week.

Flaying the new policy, Congress spokesperson Surendra Kumar Aggarwal slammed the B C Khanduri government for taking away away the right to sell liquor from the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN), Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) and Uttarakhand Purva Sainik Uddham Limited (UPSUL) -- all government undertakings -- and handing over to the distilleries.

''This would hamper the financial stability of these units,'' he said, adding that the decision to increase application fee for intending retailers from the existing Rs 200 to Rs 10,000 would adversely effect the self-employed people in this business.

''They would now remain mere puppets in the hand of liquor syndicates,'' he said, adding that Congress vehemently opposes this ''anti-public'' policy.

He said that the Congress would initiate statewide ''Sharab Niti Badlo'' (Change Excise Policy) campaign, under which torchlight rallies would be organised at every district headquarters.

Area Coordinators have been appointed to lead the campaign in their respective districts, Mr Aggarwal added.

UNI