Karnataka liquor stores plan statewide bandh on November 20 over excise corruption charges | bengaluru

Liquor shops in Karnataka are set to shut down across the state on November 20, as more than 10,800 licensed establishments have come together to protest alleged corruption in the state’s Excise Department, according to representatives of the Karnataka Wine Merchants Federation. The bandh aims to draw attention to what traders say is widespread corruption and unfair competition that is hurting their business, news agency PTI reported.

Federation General Secretary Govindaraj Hegde stated that participation among liquor license holders is expected to be between 85 and 90 percent, which is an important indicator of unity across the sector. Citing growing frustration within the merchant community, Hegde said the situation has become unmanageable. He claimed that the government continues to issue new licenses, ignoring existing rules and creating a fiercely competitive environment that most of us cannot sustain. Hegde also explained that there are established stores that together generate revenue of approx. ₹As a result, 38,000 crore are struggling annually.

“Things are going out of control, the government is unleashing uncontrolled competition by issuing new licenses, disregarding existing rules. We provide a business of ₹ 38,000 crore annually in the state, but most of the dealers are complaining about not being able to do so. “They have to continue their business due to corruption in the department,” Hegde was quoted as saying by the agency.

According to traders, the uncontrolled expansion of licensed stores has further increased the difficulties they face; Many small and medium-sized licensees say they cannot compete or keep up financially. The Federation claims many businesses are being forced into an unsustainable cycle to run their stores.

This is not the first time that Karnataka’s vintners have raised concerns over corruption and licensing practices in the department. However, this large-scale band marks a significant increase, underscoring the sector’s determination to implement meaningful reforms. Hegde expressed concerns about the same, highlighting traders’ frustration at what they see as the government’s failure to address the impact of new licenses on their livelihoods.

With this closure, vintners hope to not only draw attention to their grievances, but also encourage a re-evaluation of licensing policies to promote a fairer, more sustainable business environment.

(With inputs from PTI)