1. Home
2. Jammu

Implement original Excise Policy in J&K as drafted in Aug-Sept. 2020: Dr. Amar

YB WEB DESK. Dated: 4/3/2021 1:27:08 PM

Jammu, Apr 2 During August-September 2020 after formulating and making public the New Excise Policy 2020-21 for Jammu & Kashmir, entire public had appreciated it as after knowing its contents it seemed that this policy will be of great benefit especially to the weaker sections of the society as reservation was entitled in this policy for weaker sections of the society. Reportedly after taking considerate view the government included in it provisions of 12% reservation for 06 categories which include (i) Ex-servicemen (ii) Specially abled (iii) to (v) SC/ST/ OBC, and (vi) Economically weaker sections of the society. Each category entitled for 2% reservation so that such weaker sections can also obtain liquor licenses. But now it has been come to be known that in this new excise policy 2020-21, perhaps the provisions for reservations seemed to be omitted, which is very un-fortunate. In the last 70 years the poor sections of the society never got any representation in wine trade. The wine trade / Liquor Licenses are issued only to rich and politically influenced persons and relatives of high-ups and politicians and there was no transparency in it at all. In the original draft policy as circulated during September 2020 it was mentioned that such liquor licensed will be now issued on open system basis, which is a welcome step. It was also mentioned that some special consideration have been kept for un-employed youth also and some concessions were also shown if such un-employed wanted to open/establish any BAR/Restaurant cum BAR as this new excise policy has been related with the tourism, said the then Excise Commissioner J&K while elaborating the details of the said policy. But now apprehensions have developed in the minds of the general public particularly the aforementioned weaker section categories of the society that perhaps the reservation @ 2% for every category stands omitted from the policy, which if based on truth is very unfortunate and may be incorporated in Toto before the said new excise policy is subjected to implementation. More so more, it appeared recently in a section of print media that a delegation of wine traders met BJP’s former Speaker J&K Legislative Assembly demanding to review the recently formulated New Excise Policy as the same (as per them) was not in their interest. Upon which the BJP leader said that the purpose of abrogation of Article 370 was to provide equal rights to the people of J&K. He further added that there are families of martyrs which got the wine shop licences on the pattern of petrol pumps and assured the delegation that he will take up the matter with concerned quarters and assured to get it reviewed, as the same (as per him) was not people friendly. Such opinion of the senior BJP leader is not in the interest of general public particularly the weaker sections of the society and also cannot be justified.