Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 26: Up in arms against the J&K Draft Excise Policy for 2021-22, members of Jammu Wine Traders Association held a protest demonstration in front of the office of Excise Commissioner, here today.
The protesting traders raised slogans against the Government and demanded continuation of the existing policy.
They alleged that the Government was hell bent to accommodate rich persons by eliminating small liquor traders who will lose their livelihood under the new regime.
“None of us can afford to compete in the e-auction as we are small traders who earn their livelihood from this business and our income is just to bear our day to day expenses,” said JWTA president Charanjeet Singh, while addressing the gathering.
The new Excise Policy envisages allotment of liquor shops to the residents of the Union Territory through e-auction. The vends shall be allotted for a period of one year.
Charanjeet Singh alleged that the Government was not ready even listening to their grievances. “You (Government) are not good people and want only to eliminate us for our no fault,” he said and sought to know what went wrong with the existing policy.
“Tell us where loopholes are in the existing policy and which wine trader did not deposit his dues? If there is something wrong, let action be taken against that trader and concerned official, but there is no logic to target all the traders,” he said.
Charanjeet Singh feared that the new regime would not only render small traders unemployed but also lead to unauthorized sale of liquor at every nook and corner of Jammu Kashmir.
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