JOIN USJD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy wanted to know from the government as to why it is allowing bars and pubs to supply liquor till 1 am and later slapping fine on people for drunk driving.
While participating in a discussion on the recent rape cases, he said: “Youths are allowed to drink alcohol till 1 pm. Once they step out and start driving their vehicles, the police catch and fine them for drunk driving. How do you expect them to go home? Should everyone be hiring a driver? You close the bars so that they will drink at home. Inspection of drunk driving or checking illegal sand mining, everything has given room for the police to extort mamool (money).”
When BJP MLA Satish Reddy said the government must reconsider its decision to keep bars and pubs open till 1 pm, Home Minister K J George did not give a direct reply to him but said,
“It is the BJP that promised in its election manifesto that it would keep hotels and bars open till late in the night.”