On the last day of Vidhan Sabha, the Opposition brought an adjournment motion during Zero Hour on Fl-2, which has been shadowing the State Government as well as the Opposition for the past few months.
They demanded debate under Section 310 of Vidhan Sabha proceedings. They kept insisting that the Speaker should allow an immediate debate over the matter. Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal said he would list it under Section 58. The Opposition readily agreed.
leader of Opposition Ajay Bhatt said as the Chief Minister had issued advertisement in dailies seeking public opinion on Fl-2 they wanted to give suggestions to them and these would be recorded here.
Taking a dig at the Chief Minister's media in-charge, who alleged that leader of Opposition was advocating for three companies with control over around 84 per cent of liquor trade, Bhatt said that the Ministers had been given Rs 20 crore to settle the matter. At this point, Parliamentary Affairs Minister, who was consuming water, stopped midway, shot back, "Can you name such Ministers and the their benefactorsIJ" Bhatt chose to withdraw his comment against the Ministers and appreciated PAM for challenging Fl-2 in a Cabinet meeting.
Bhatt alleged that the state government is doing everything to unleash monopoly over the Fl-2 (wholesale of foreign liquor) in the state. They are all set to give the license to some particular persons selected with design.
The previous State Governments had worked hard to dismantle the monopoly over the liquor trade after Uttarakhand came up in view of the clout of the liquor mafia having become unchallengeable. They used to manufacture poor quality liquor and forced people to consume that. Whosoever dared to challenge them they ended up getting bumped off, he alleged.
Then the mafias manufactured liquor with tincture, spirit and urea. They sold the same liquor packaged differently at varying prices. This practice going on unhindered dented into state exchequer aside from affecting the people's health. People consuming them fell prey to dreaded diseases like tuberculosis and cancer besides having problems in their eyes, throats and kidneys. This left the youths incapacitated for the physical test in Army recruitment camp in Garhwal and Kumaon divisions. Alive to the gravity of the menace, the State Government then had changed the liquor policy and promoted competition in the liquor trade to ensure that they prepare high quality liquor to stay put in the competitive market. Thereafter, 40-50 branded companies opened their outlets here and the state revenue swelled substantially. As per the policy, the liquor company operating here must open outlet in each of the districts of the state so that people did not rush to the capital to have good quality liquor.
In 2014-15, the State Government had framed a new liquor policy but old pattern of Fl-2 remained intact. later, the Chief Minister changed the system. As per the order, two Fl-2 godowns would come up in the State - one in Udham Singh Nagar of Kumaon and the other in Dehradun of Garhwal region. Even they had issued an advertisement regarding this on June 1, 2014. Following this, excise department officials had lodged complaint on seven points and even a senior IAS officer had forwarded the file to the CM as well. The CM had written that they could take action. It was mentioned that one each godown would be opened in Garhwal and Kumaon division. The excise commissioner had written to the principal secretary excise, appealing to have the policy scrapped on the plea that it would severely dent into the state revenue.
"These documents we have procured under Right to Information (RTI) Act. Now the government is saying that they are trying to break the syndicate, but, in reality, around 40-50 companies have opened their godowns. Now, it is clear the new policy is meant to promote syndicate unlike the old one, Bhatt said.
He also praised the Cabinet Ministers, who dare to oppose the policy during the Cabinet meeting. Attuned to the pith of the collective mood of the state, they have taken such a stance. Their gesture is worthy of praise as they are alive to the threat the liquor mafia dangles over Uttarakhand, he said.
MlA Madan Kaushik said that the wholesalers will control the market and control the sale of the products as well. For instance, one each wholesale counter would be opened in Garhwal and Kumaon which means they will decide which product to be sold at retail counter. People would not have option. He further asked the state government why it is harping on Fl-2 instead of changing Cl-2 (wholesale of country liquor).
In her reply, PAM Hridayesh informed that the state government has not made any change in Fl-2 and previous policy is being followed by them.
‘Govt procrastinates on salary anomalies’
Raising the issue of alleged anomalies in the salary of the State Government employees during Zero Hour, MlA Madan Kaushik on Friday said the pay anomaly committee with the Chief Secretary at its head had convened a meeting with the employee unions. But they have yet not released minutes of the meeting. This amounts to delaying tactic. This is meant to stop the association to go for further dialogue.
PAM Indira Hridayesh intervened, saying that she herself is unaware of the minutes. later, she informed that the committee had convened a meeting but the decision was yet to be approved which is why they had not issued minutes of the meeting.