CPI(M) demands comprehensive Excise Policy

Bangalore, May 23 (UNI) Holding flaws in the Karnataka government's Excise Policy responsible for the recent hooch tragedy which claimed over 137 lives, the CPI(M) today urged a more comprehensive policy to wipe out illicit brew trade in future.

Addressing newspersons here, CPI(M) State Secretary V G K Nair said the present policy was discriminatory in nature as it focussed only on the interest of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) manufacturers and distributors.

The present Excise Policy also failed to curb production and distribution of spurious liquor by bootleggers, in league with politicians, he alleged.

Mr Nair said if the ban on sale of arrack by the previous JD(S)-BJP coalition government was in vogue, the recent hooch tragedy would not have occurred.

Pressing for an impartial inquiry into the tragic incident to bring the culprits to book, he demanded that the state government provide adequate relief for the families of the deceased.

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