“Karnataka Liquor Stores to Stage Statewide Shutdown on November 20 Over Alleged Corruption in Excise Department”
In a major move to protest alleged corruption within the state’s Excise Department, liquor stores across Karnataka are preparing for a statewide shutdown on November 20. Over 10,800 licensed establishments, including wine merchants and liquor retailers, will participate in the bandh to highlight what they claim is the rampant corruption and unfair competition threatening their livelihoods.
In a major move to protest alleged corruption within the state’s Excise Department, liquor stores across Karnataka are preparing for a statewide shutdown on November 20. Over 10,800 licensed establishments, including wine merchants and liquor retailers, will participate in the bandh to highlight what they claim is the rampant corruption and unfair competition threatening their livelihoods.
The protest is being organized by the Karnataka Wine Merchants Federation (KWMF), which represents the interests of liquor store owners in the state. According to the Federation’s General Secretary, Govindaraj Hegde, the shutdown will see participation from between 85 to 90 percent of licensed liquor vendors. He emphasized that the scale of the bandh reflects the growing frustration among the merchant community, which feels their businesses are being undermined by the Excise Department’s alleged practices.
Hegde pointed out that the government’s continuous issuance of new licenses has created an unmanageable situation, with many established businesses struggling to survive in an increasingly competitive market. “The government is unleashing uncontrolled competition by granting new licenses without considering the existing rules, and it is severely affecting businesses that have been operating for years,” he said. “We generate ₹38,000 crore annually, yet many liquor dealers are finding it difficult to sustain their operations due to corruption within the department.”
The Federation’s protest highlights what it sees as an unsustainable environment for small to medium-sized liquor shops. Merchants claim that the unchecked expansion of licensed establishments has led to a saturated market, making it increasingly difficult to compete. According to Hegde, many businesses are caught in a cycle of financial strain as they are forced to meet rising competition while also dealing with bureaucratic hurdles and alleged corrupt practices in the issuance of licenses.
This isn’t the first time that liquor merchants in Karnataka have raised concerns about departmental corruption and the government’s licensing policies. However, the upcoming bandh represents the largest and most significant demonstration to date, signaling the industry’s mounting frustration.
The Federation’s leaders are calling for a review of the state’s licensing practices, urging the government to introduce reforms that would ensure a fairer and more sustainable business environment. They hope that the bandh will not only draw attention to their grievances but also prompt the state to reconsider its current policies, which the merchants argue are damaging their businesses and livelihoods.
As Karnataka’s liquor store owners prepare for the statewide closure, all eyes will be on the state government’s response and whether it will take meaningful action to address the concerns raised by the Federation. The bandh is expected to disrupt liquor supply across the state, but it also underscores the intensity of the industry’s dissatisfaction with the ongoing practices within the Excise Department.
Sources By Agencies
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