Madya Nisheda Andolana Karnataka, a State-wide organisation fighting for complete prohibition of liquor, has expressed serious concern over the unabated illegal liquor sales by unlicensed shops and stated that the organisation will intensify its protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on November 25.
Addressing a press conference in Yadgir, Vidya Patil, State convenor of the organisation, alleged that despite continuous protests, illegal liquor sales have not been prevented and have continued unabatedly due to the inactivity of the police and excise departments.
“The liquor sales from the licensed shops and also from unlicensed shops like grocery shops, pan shops, and houses have been higher, as youths are becoming addicted in the rural areas after liquor was easily accessible,” she said.
She stated that Maharashtra, Gujarat, and many other States have granted gram panchayats considerable power under the Panchayat Raj Act to hold a Gram Sabha (village meeting), where the government is required to obtain mandatory permission from at least 20% of the women participating in such gram sabhas. The State government should bring similar laws here to curb illegal liquor sales, she said.
Ms. Patil said that the State government should form women’s awareness committees in each village and give them quasi-judicial power to curb illegal liquor selling.
To place such demands before the State government, the organisation is holding a protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru with “Sarayi Beda, Shikshana Beku; Beeru Beda, Neeru Beku (Want education and water instead of liquor)”, and the general public, especially women, should take part in the protest to ensure the support to curb illegal liquor selling, Ms. Patil added.
Nagarathna Patil, Mallikarjun Satyampet, Sharanagouda Kolhar, Sushilamma, Mallikarjun, Bannappa and others were present.
Published – November 22, 2025 06:39 pm IST
