Reacting to the change wrought in the excise policy by the State Government, Congress spokesperson for the State Surendra Kumar said that the new policy would negatively impact agriculture and horticulture of the State, two sectors whose development was kept in view while the Harish Rawat Government conceived the Fl-2 policy.
“It seems they have changed the policy under the pressure of BJP leaders who are generous to the liquor syndicate. The Harish Rawat Government conceived the excise policy in the interests of horticulture and agriculture. It was made mandatory for the liquor manufacturers to blend pears, apple, Malta and the like," he said.
He further said that the people should remember that in 2007 after the BJP was saddled in power they had changed the excise policy to transfer the power to regulate the trade from the Government agencies to the private players. The same has happened during the Central Rule now, he said.
"This is expected as the BJP gets its election fund from the liquor syndicate," he alleged.