Mangalore: Karnataka Excise Minister Renukacharya aims to make the state illicit liquor free.

Speaking to reporters in Mangalore after holding a meeting of divisional level excise officers in Mangalore on Saturday, the minister said he aims to eliminate all the remaining illegal liquor centres   within the next two months. He also claimed that the number of illicit liquor centres have come down to 93 from 2000 during his ministership.

Mangalore division has achieved a growth of 7.79 percent, which gives Mangalore the top slot in sale of liquor, the minister said. Excise officials have been patrolling Mangalore division on a daily basis to curb illegal illicit liquor trade, he said and added Rs 35.59 crore has been collected as tax in Mangalore division this year.

In the year 2012-13, 20,854 raids were carried out across the state, 3587 cases were registered, 2,236 accused arrested, and 113 various types of vehicles seized, the minister further informed Demanding State BJP presidentship for former CM B S Yeddyurappa, Renukacharya said Yeddyurappa was inevitable to the party. He said a delegation of Yeddyurappa supporters would shortly be meeting party leaders in Delhi to appoint him as the State BJP President.