Mysuru: Kannada activists on Wednesday staged a protest in front of the deputy commissioner’s office against the excise officials for granting permission for a wine shop near Agriculture Research Centre in Naganahalli near Mysuru in Naganahalli panchayat limits.
Protesting the opening of wine shop in a rented building belonging to local politician despite stiff opposition from the localites, the activists said it vitiates the peaceful atmosphere in the region as hundreds of farmers from across the state and other parts of the country visit the research centre off Mysuru- Bengaluru constructed by Mysuru maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar in 1917. They visit the centre to attend seminars, workshops, demonstration classes, for soil testing, to interact with agriculture scientists and for other purposes.
Though the government had given clear-cut orders not to give permission to open the bars within 100 meters of radius of educational institutions, prayer halls and temples, the excise department officials permitted to open a wine shop near agriculture centre flouting this order, they alleged.
They also threatened to intensify the stir if government fails to withdraw its permission.