Liquor shops to down shutters in Karnataka

The Karnataka Wine Merchants Federation has called for a state-wide liquor strike on November 20th in protest against alleged corruption within the Karnataka Excise Department. 

The federation announced that tens of thousands of liquor license holders will close their establishments in a show of solidarity.

The Federation expects significant participation in the protest. According to media reports, Govindaraj Hegde, the Federation’s General Secretary, has voiced serious concerns over the state government’s approach to issuing new business licenses. He claims that the unregulated expansion of licenses has led to uncontrolled competition, disregarding existing regulations.

Hegde further alleged that corruption within the licensing process is creating an unsustainable business environment, with many dealers struggling to survive under what they consider arbitrary and excessive licensing practices.