Mysore/Mysuru: Seeking abolition of the online indenting system for procurement of liquor from State-owned Karnataka State Beverages Corporation Limited (KSBCL), liquor merchants and licence holders, under the banner of Mysuru-Chamarajanagar District Liquor Merchants Association, as part of a State-wide protest on different dates, staged a symbolic demonstration in front of KSBCL Depots in Hebbal Industrial Area and Koorgalli in city this morning.

Speaking during the demon-stration in Hebbal, Association President S. Guruswamy, who is also the President of Federation of Wine Merchants Association of Karnataka, said that the online indenting system, introduced recently for procurement of liquor from KSBCL depots, had become too problematic for users. Wanting the Government to return to the old form of indenting which was user-friendly, he said that the timings for indenting too needs to be changed. Terming the current timing (9 pm to 9 am) as unscientific and irrational, Guruswamy wanted the timings to be fixed as 9 am to 6 pm.

Recalling that in the past, liquor stocks used to arrive at 4 pm itself though  indents were placed at 1.30 pm, he said that several pleas to the Excise Minister and Excise Commissioner in this regard has fallen on deaf ears. 

Noting that the Excise Minister has called a meeting of liquor merchants on May 16, Guruswamy said that they will be forced to shut down shops for one day after May 19, if their demands are not addressed at the meeting.

Later, the protestors submitted a memorandum containing their charter of demands to KSBCL Depot Manager N. Lokesh.

Association office-bearers K.P. Paramesh, R. Lakshman, K.S. Murali, Ramakrishnappa and others took part in the protest.