Karnataka   

Groups object to sale of liquor at IFFI venue

PANAJI: Representatives of various organisations, including those of women, staged a demonstration on Thursday in front of the venue of the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in protest against the sale of liquor on the IFFI premises.

The organisations included Bailancho Saad, Bailancho Ekvott, the All-India Women’s Conference, Positive People, Mahila Mandals and self-help groups who are opposed to the opening of a beer lounge in the Old GMC Complex housing the office of the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), the co-organisers of the IFFI, and the sale of liquor near the INOX multiplex built by the State Government as part of the IFFI infrastructure.

Sabina Martins of Bailancho Saad said they were opposed to the beer lounge that provided free beer to journalists throughout the day during the ongoing film festival.

The groups have objected to “the opening of hard liquor stalls and beer stalls in the INOX courtyard and its sale throughout the day and also the display of advertisements of alcoholic drinks within the INOX courtyard and outside during the IFFI giving the impression that the IFFI is hosted by alcohol companies”.

Earlier, following representations made by various women’s organisations a few months back, the State Excise Commissioner had cancelled a beer bar licence granted to INOX. On appeal, the State Government turned down the request of the INOX management to run a beer bar in their complex.

The groups said that they had to hold the demonstrations because despite representations to the Excise Commissioner, the Chief Secretary and the Chief Minister, no action had been taken to cancel the permission to sell alcohol at the IFFI venue.

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