NT NETWORK
PANAJI
Citing tourist season in the state, wholesale and retail liquor vendors affected by the Supreme Court’s liquor ban order on Wednesday urged the government to allow them to operate in April and May “as profit is gained mainly in these two months.”
“It’s tourist season, we want the government to give us interim relief at least for next two months. We can’t afford to lose everything at once,” said one of the affected traders while speaking at the meeting held in Taleigao.
However, counsel representing liquor traders Amit Palyekar said that even if the government intends to provide interim relief, it will have to get permission from the Supreme Court.
Slamming the former chief minister, Palyekar said that Laxmikant Parsekar had enough time prior to model code of conduct to take a decision on approaching Supreme Court against the liquor ban order.
“Parsekar did not show any positive response when we met him, and it may be because of him that the state lost an opportunity to approach the court before model code of conduct came into force,” said Palyekar.
He said that loss of livelihood and the loss of income or revenue is part of the state hence the government should have taken up the issue before the Supreme Court.
Palyekar however praised the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for acting promptly on the issue.
“Chief Minister Parrikar had every data on the back of his mind and studied the matter even before we could approach him so we have to give credit to Parrikar,” he said.
Clarifying the stand of the government for delay in filing review petition against the order, Michael Carrasco, the president of All Goa Bar and Restaurant Owners Association said that Parrikar has deliberately taken a decision to approach the Supreme Court after three months as he wants the current bench of judges to change which is expected in two months time.
“Chief Minister Parrikar is of the opinion that the bench of judges who passed the liquor ban order will neither revoke the judgment nor consider the review petition hence he told us that the government will wait till this bench changes,” said Carrasco.
He also said that the Chief Minister Parrikar is much cautioned about de-notifying the state and national highways as he fears that activists and NGOs may challenge his decision.
Meanwhile, Goa Liquor Traders Association president Dattaprasad Naik urged the government to form a proper Excise and Transport Policy for Goa and then go to the Supreme Court to present a strong case and arguments against the ban order. Naik urged the wholesale and retail liquor vendors to be united until they get out of this crisis.