The large community of ex-servicemen in the State is enraged at increase in tax on liquor in CSD canteens across Uttarakhand. The State Govt had increased the excise duty on liquor in CSD canteens by 7 percent recently. This decision infuriated the armed forces veterans in the state as they were demanding to reduce 30 percent hike in excise duty imposed last year but instead of reducing it the State Government increased it further.
Interestingly the Government has exempted Rum from increase in duty and targeted other types of liquor like Whisky. The President of Uttarakhand Ex-services league, Brigadier RS Rawat (Rtd) told The Pioneer that increase in tax has ensured that prices of liquor in the CSD canteens located in Uttarakhand are much higher than States like Delhi, Punjab and Haryana.
He said that a false notion is being created according to which is said that Rum being popular drink of Other Ranks (OR) is exempted from this increase but the matter of fact is that the Whisky is evenly popular among both officers and ORs.
“An armed forces personnel is deployed in inhospitable conditions for considerable period of time due to which many of them turn to alcohol so much so that many take it daily though in moderate amounts. This decision of government is not justified at all,’’ he said. Terming the decision to impose more tax on Whisky and exempting Run, as an attempt to create wedge among the armed forces veterans, Brigadier K G Behl (Rtd) said armed forces are known for their unity and discipline and such decisions should be viewed seriously.
“If Excise Duty has to be reduced it should be done on all types of liquors irrespective of who drinks what. We are more worried about the way this increase was implemented without affecting the rates of liquor in civil shops. The Hon’ble Governor is request to reduce excise duty in CSDs of the State,’’ he said.
Colonel GB S Cheema (Rtd) said that price of liquor in states like Punjab and Haryana is almost half of what it is now in Uttarakhand. He said that the Government should reconsider the decision as significant number of people from the state serve in armed forces of the country.