Mysore/Mysuru: Bemoaning that the Government is yet to address the technical glitches and other hurdles in web-indenting, an online requisition system for getting liquor stocks from State-run Karnataka State Beverages Corporation Limited (KSBCL), the Mysuru-Chamarajanagar District Liquor Merchants Association will stage a symbolic demonstration in front of KSBCL Depot in Hebbal Industrial Area of the city on May 12.

Speaking to SOM this morning, Federation of Wine Merchants Association of Karnataka President S. Guruswamy, who is also the President of Mysuru-Chamarajanagar Liquor Merchants Association, said that the May 12 protest is part of the State-wide demonstration, as per which liquor merchants and license holders will stage demonstration on different dates in each Division of the Federation.

Pointing out that liquor traders and licence holders in the districts coming under the Federation’s Mysuru Division — Mysuru, Mandya, Chamarajanagar and Chikkamagalur — will stage a protest in front of the KSBCL depot in their respective district, he said that the merchants will not place any indent with the KSBCL for liquor supplies on that day (May 12) as a way of registering their protest.

Highlighting the drawbacks  of the online web-indenting which has been newly introduced by the Government, Guruswamy wanted the Government to immediately stop web-indenting and return to the old form of indenting in the offline mode, which he said was friendly to Liquor traders.

Maintaining that Liquor traders are facing increasing difficulties in meeting the demands of customers, Guruswamy asserted that the demand-supply chain can be put back on tracks only if the old system of indenting is brought back. Stating that the liquor traders have no way other than protesting, Guruswamy expressed disappointment that their repeated pleas to the authorities to set things right, have fallen on deaf ears.

Reiterating that liquor traders will not place any indent on May 12, he however said that liquor shops will be open as usual and there will be selling of liquor only until the stocks last.

Guruswamy also warned that the Federation will be forced to call a Statewide closure of liquor shops after May 19, if their demands are not met by then.