MARGAO: The All Goa Bar and Restaurant Owners Association (AGBRO) has hinted at boycotting the upcoming panchayat election and urging people to restrain from voting if the government fails to help them and help them soon in getting relief from the liquor ban.
However, it was clarified that the call for boycotting the panchayat elections was the sentiment expressed by the members and affected persons and that a formal decision on the same would be taken at the general body meeting of the Association.
At a meeting held at Margao on Thursday, AGBRO called upon the Excise Commissioner and Chief Secretary to approach the Supreme Court and clarify whether the ruling affects the Bars and Restaurants or not.
AGBRO President Michael Carrasco, his deputy Dipak Mhadeshri, Anju Simepurushkar and other members of the AGBRO attended the meeting held at Longuinhos restaurant.
Addressing the meeting, Carrasco said, “Since the Attorney General of India and Advocate General of Goa have the same opinion that the SC order doesn’t affect the bars and restaurants anywhere, why doesn’t the Commissioner of Excise give in writing to the Chief Secretary that the order doesn’t apply to the bars and restaurants.”
Carrasco suggested that it would be better if the Excise Commissioner with the Chief Secretary get a clarification from the Supreme Court whether or not, the order would be applicable to the Goan establishments.
“We will meet and urge all the 40 representatives of Goa to pass a resolution in favour of having a separate excise policy for Goa and to clarify that they would enforce the Goa Excise Policy instead of the SC order,” he said and added, “We have found out that we can succeed if we go with the Goa Excise Policy.”
Mhadeshri said, “The government is of, for and by people, therefore, they can’t say that they are not responsible. We will boycott the panchayat election and go around the villages telling people to say no to election because if the chief minister today doesn’t support, then, will the next one support?”
The Association urged the government and the excise commissioner not to start removing liquor outlets within 500 meters of State and National highways for fear of violating the SC order, but instead seek a legal solution to the issue as it would affect thousands of Goans.
