Rajesh on bar timing: No extension, only uniformity

Kozhikode: Minister for excise M B Rajesh defended the state govt's decision to extend the working hours of bars, asserting that it should not be termed as an ‘extension' but as a unification of working hours in line with those in designated tourism zones that already function from 10am to 12am. So, taking all that into account, the govt made the timings uniform across the state. There is nothing new about it, he said.Addressing media persons in Kannur on Wednesday, the minister also claimed that the opposition had prior knowledge of the decision and had conveyed a favourable stand. The minister said that the state govt has now applied the same timings uniformly for bars across the state, noting that a uniform annual licence fee of Rs 35 lakh was already being collected regardless of the location, which had triggered complaints of disparity.Rajesh said that the state govt now allows bars in five-star hotels to operate till 3am on remitting an additional licence fee of Rs 5 lakh.Describing the bar-hotel sector as an industry, Rajesh argued that the state imposes higher licence fees and tighter restrictions than neighbouring states. According to him, licence fees ranged between Rs 6 lakh and Rs 25 lakh in Tamil Nadu, while in Karnataka it was between Rs 4 lakh and Rs 10 lakh and Andhra Pradesh charged around Rs 25 lakh.He cited that operating hours elsewhere are also longer. He mentioned that in the case of Bengaluru, bars can function from 9am to 1am. The excise minister said that the decision was taken mainly in response to the demands raised by the tourism sector.On the criticism levelled by opposition leader V D Satheesan, Rajesh said that the opposition was aware of the decision beforehand and added that he would speak further if the opposition raised more questions.When asked about LDF govt allowing proliferation of bars and liquor outlets in the state, Rajesh said that while the number of bars and retail outlets in Kerala stood at 1,379, it was 5,683 in Karnataka, 4,576 in Andhra Pradesh and 2,485 in Tamil Nadu.