May 19, 2008 18:32 IST
Against the backdrop of the death of 44 people by consuming poisonous liquor, the Congress and Janata Dal- Secular on Monday blamed each other for Sunday's hooch tragedy.
While Congress alleged that the ban on arrack by the erstwhile JD - S-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition was responsible for it, the JD-S demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investiagtion.
"I am charging B S Yeddyurappa (BJP leader), the BJP, JD-S.....you are directly responsible for this," Congress leader Janardhana Poojary said.
Thirty five people lost their lives in Bangalore and Kolar on Sunday after drinking poisonous hooch.
Poojary said that the arrack ban had harmed poor sections of the society. "Why did they ban only arrack? Why not other liquor?" Poojary said and added that the ban has only benefited the liquor trade, whose profits have increased multifold.
"People are talking about the BJP-JDS government getting Rs 1,000 crore from the liquor lobby (for ban on arrack)", he alleged.
Former Karnataka minister and JD-S leader H D Revanna urged Governor Rameshwar Thakur to seek a CBI probe into the hooch tragedy.
Speaking to reporters separately, he demanded that the Commissioner for Excise Department, Joint Commissioner of Excise Intelligence Bureau and the official in charge of the department in Bangalore be arrested and cases booked against them for dereliction of duty.
He also alleged that the sale of 'seconds' (duty evaded liquor) was rampant in Karnataka.
