Ruling party member displays arrack sachet in Assembly

A ruling BJP legislator created a stir in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Monday by displaying a sachet of arrack, which has been banned in the State since July 1 this year.

Claiming that the JD (S)-BJP coalition Government has not been able to implement the ban on manufacture and sale of arrack in the State, BJP MLA C T Ravi pulled out a sachet containing the brew in the Legislative Assembly to prove his point, much to the embarrassment of the Government.

Raising the matter during zero hour, Ravi, who represents Chikmagalur assembly constituency, said the Government has failed to implement the ban on arrack effectively. “It is freely available in my constituency”, he said.

Displaying the sachet, Ravi said there is a mafia in the arrack trade and the Government should crack down upon them.

Though BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who holds the Excise portfolio was not present in the House, other members of the coalition Ministry were squirming in their seats over the BJP MLA’s act.

Speaker Krishna expressed displeasure over the display of the arrack sachet in the House and suggested that Ravi hand over the sachet to him in his chambers. But, an unrelenting Ravi continued his attack on the issue and said the arrack mafia was raking in millions of rupees in the illegal trade while the Government was losing Rs 19 billion annually on account of the arrack ban.

Ravi was supported by Congress member Boseraju, who said the easy availability of arrack was not restricted to Chickmagalur. “It is available in many parts of the state”, he said.

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Dharam Singh criticised the Government for its failure to implement the ban effectively. Speaker Krishna agreed that the matter was serious and the Government should look into it.

Yediyurappa, who replied to the issue yesterday, assured the members of the House that the Government will crack down on the arrack mafia and ensure that the arrack ban is implemented.