PANJIM: Amidst a commotion among alcohol traders and bar owners over the highway liquor ban, Congress has accused BJP of plotting a strategy to shut liquor businesses in the State on lines with the Gujarat model.
“It is a part of the strategy. Goa government wants to replicate the ‘dry’ Gujarat model,” Curtorim MLA Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco, supported by other party MLAs said on Saturday.
In view of his failure to salvage the livelihood of thousands of Goan dependent on the business, Lourenco demanded that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar should take moral responsibility and resign.
“It is a deliberate attempt to ensure that the liquor industry shuts and the livelihood of small-time businessmen is affected. Parrikar should take moral responsibility and resign,” said an annoyed Lourenco, who was backed by Leader of the Opposition Chandrakant Kavalekar and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat among others.
Referring to the 32-page order of the Supreme Court, Kamat pointed out that only the non-BJP ruled states filed petitions seeking modification of the December 2016 Supreme Court order. “This is a matter for each state to take a decision. I cannot speak for other states about why it didn’t approach the SC, but Goa has definitely lost a golden opportunity,” he commented.
The order copy indicated that eight states – Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Sikkim, Telangana, Meghalaya and Tamil Nadu – besides the Union Territory of Pondicherry moved the apex court seeking relief. “All are non-BJP states,” Kavalekar commented as Kamat read some extracts from the order copy. Goa was among 18 states that did not file a plea.
“Sikkim and Meghalaya are exempted from the ban because of the hilly terrain and forested areas. Why could Goa not file a similar plea referring to 38-39 percent of forest cover, 105 km coastline and CRZ regulations? There are two National highways passing through the State and one National highway cutting through all the urban areas. Goa government could have listed all this in the petition copy to claim exemption,” he stated.
Adding to this, Kavalekar said that during the hearing of the petition before December 2016 order, the SC had issued notices to all the states including Goa which was totally ignored. “Before passing the judgment in December 2016, the SC had issued notices to all the states but Goa government did not reply. It could have filed a writ petition to bring some relief to our affected liquor traders. Goa has already suffered a major revenue loss due to mining closure,” he stated alleging that the BJP-led coalition is not serious about solving the problem of the affected liquor traders.
Kamat even apprehended that closure of liquor outlets could lead to violence, particularly in South Goa. “It is a question of bread and butter of several families. They are now daring the officials on the implementation. This is the situation in South and I fear there could be violence,” he said replying to a media question.
While condemning the government’s failure over this issue, the Congress MLAs have assured to back the affected traders. “We will come on the streets,” said Kamat, supported by others.
