the goan I network
MARGAO
Condemning the Excise Department directive to the bar and tavern owners to upload the daily sale of liquor in the establishments on an app, the Goa Forward Party has set a 30-day deadline on the government to roll back the decision or face agitation.
While calling for the immediate withdrawal of the directive, making it mandatory for the bar owners to upload details of transactions on the app, the regional party has called for an amendment to the Excise Act in the next session of the Goa Legislative Assembly exempting daily uploading of business
transactions by the bar, tavern owners.
Addressing the media, Goa Forward chief spokesman Prashant Naik demanded to know whether the government expects the bar owners to upload the number of pegs sold by the establishment on a daily basis. Pointing out that bars and taverns are common people and they are not conversant with android mobiles and apps, Naik sought to know whether the government expects the bar owners to engage the services of youth to do the work of uploading details on the app.
“I do not think the government, which swears by Goenkarponn, has any good agenda for Goemkars. Otherwise, the Excise Department would not have directed the bars and tavern owners to submit details of daily transactions on the app,” he said.
Naik pointed out that there may be hundreds of bars and taverns, which do bare minimum business by selling liquor in pegs.
“Is the government expecting the common tavern owner to count the number of pegs of whisky, brandy etc and upload the information on the app? And, how would the Excise Department expect these small-time bars and taverns to maintain a record of the seasonal drink urak?” he questioned.
Reminding that many a trader was forced to knock the doors of the chartered accountants after the introduction of the GST, Naik wondered whether the government is forcing the self-employed bar and tavern owners to employ people to do the app uploading work.
Admitting that the excise rules provide for submission of details by the liquor traders to the department, Naik called for a suitable amendment to exempt the common bar and tavern owners from these rules.
While demanding that CM Pramod Sawant take a call on the issue, the GFP spokesman warned of taluka-wise dharnas to protest over the directives, culminating in a gherao of the Excise Commissioner after the 30-day deadline.
