Karnataka Budget 2023: Increase in liquor excise duty, strong measures against moral policing

The Congress government has taken another step towards fulfilling its promises outlined in its poll manifesto. Demonstrating its dedication to maintaining law and order, the government has emphasized its determination to tackle issues such as moral policing and communalization.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday (July 9) presented the state government's budget for the fiscal year 2023-2024. During his budget speech, the Chief Minister revealed an increase of 20 percent in the current rates of additional excise duty imposed on Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) across all 18 slabs.

Additionally, the Chief Minister announced a raise in the additional excise duty on beer from 175 percent to 185 percent.

The Congress government has taken another step towards fulfilling its promises outlined in its poll manifesto. Demonstrating its dedication to maintaining law and order, the government has emphasized its determination to tackle issues such as moral policing and communalization.

"Our government will give utmost importance to maintain law and order. Stringent action will be taken against those who harass people in the name of moral policing, spread fake news through social media and disturb harmony," the chief minister said.

In a significant event at the Vidhana Soudha, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah unveiled the annual budget, outlining a budgetary allocation of more than Rs 3.27 lakh crore. Prioritizing the fulfillment of the Congress party's electoral commitments, he dedicated Rs 52,000 crore annually to deliver on the five crucial poll 'guarantees' that played a pivotal role in the party's triumph in the recent Karnataka Assembly elections.

Incidentally, Siddaramaiah created a record of sorts by presenting his 14th budget in the Assembly as Finance Minister. He surpassed the mark of late Ramakrishna Hegde, a former CM, who had presented 13 budgets.