Bengaluru, 8 June

Priyank Kharge, the Karnataka’s new Home Minister, has ordered police across the State to crack down on liquor-serving establishments serving underaged youth.

In a statement on X on Monday, Priyank said he directed City police officials to issue notices to all pubs, breweries, bars, clubs, lounges, restaurants and liquor-serving establishments to strictly prevent underage entry and underage drinking.

He cited a study that covered 4,093 students in Bengaluru and said it raised serious concerns over substance addiction among minors.

He said that 33 per cent of the subjects reported alcohol use, and the median age of starting alcohol consumption was 17 years, with some cases reported as early as 8 years. He said that 18 per cent reported tobacco addiction.

“This is not just a licensing issue,” he said. “It is a youth safety and public-health issue… Commercial profit cannot come at the cost of the safety and future of our children. No ID, no entry”.

Hence, Priyank directed officials to ensure that valid ID is presented during the time of entry and that owners, managers and license holders will be held accountable if their establishment is found serving alcohol to minors. He also said that CCTV should be preserved to ensure that it can be checked later.

MLC seeks task force to combat ganja ‘menace’ near colleges

Congress MLC Dinesh Gooligowda urged Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Monday to constitute a Special Task Force (STF), increase police patrolling and prohibit tobacco products near schools and colleges to combat the “growing menace ofnarcotic substances (drugs/ganja)”.

He said that the spread of ganja has become a major social menace and students unable to afford these substances are reportedly occasionally “resorting to (other) unlawful activities”.

Hence, he argued that the State government should have police patrolling within a 1km radius around educational institutions, with schools and colleges starting soon.

He called for strict enforcement of the COTPA Act, which bans the sale of tobacco products within 200m of schools and a mandatory review of the enforcement in monthly crime meetings.

The MLC also said that an STF should be formed in every district “to identify and dismantle networks” involved in the sale and consumption of narcotics.

Simultaneously, he said that medical rehabilitation and counselling mechanisms should be implemented to help students who have already “fallen victim to addiction” and sought a dedicated helpline to encourage citizens to report narcotic networks.

He also stressed the importance of awareness in the curriculum.

Tell RSS to keep documents ready: Priyank

After Sudhir Bangera was arrested for issuing a death threat and casteist remarks against him, Priyank Kharge quipped on X that the BJP’s “fear, anxiety and anger” was already showing, even though it had been just a few days after he took charge as Home Minister. “Please convey my regards to your ‘Body of Individuals’ (RSS) and ask them to keep the documents ready for the registration of your political party,” he said, tagging the BJP.