BANGALORE: The Government seems to be speaking in many voices on the question of banning the sale of arrack and lotteries. On Tuesday, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said the Government would stand by its commitment to ban the sale of arrack and lotteries, depending, however, on "public response."

On Monday, Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, who holds the Finance and Excise portfolios, said the Government would not take a hasty decision on the proposal to ban the sale of arrack. Similarly, Minister for Lotteries Ramachandra Gowda said the Government would not ban the sale of lotteries, instead it would "streamline" their operations.

Mr. Kumaraswamy told presspersons here on Tuesday that the Government was considering a ban because addiction to liquor and lotteries had destroyed many poor families. The Government would weigh public opinion in the coming the days and take a decision on whether to ban them, he said. Asked about State BJP president D.V. Sadananda Gowda's call to party workers to get ready for mid-term elections, Mr. Kumaraswamy said the JD(S)-BJP coalition Government would complete its full term.

To a question on reasons for the delay in conducting elections to urban local bodies, he said the elections were postponed following the delay in the preparation of the reservation list for wards in the local bodies.

The State Election Commission has filed a writ petition in the Karnataka High Court seeking a direction to the Government to hold the elections.

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