Bangalore: Falling in line with the government policy, Karnataka Excise Minister M P Renukacharya has said there was no proposal to extend the business hours of pubs and bars in Bangalore.
"I have never said that the timings would be extended," said Renukacharya, who had recently triggered off a controversy by indicating that the government might concede the demand of pub and bar owners for extending the business hours.
Home Minister Dr V S Acharya had ruled out accepting the demand by liquor outlets to extend the business hours from the present 11.30 pm to 1.30 am.
However, Renukacharya went ahead with his meeting on Monday with heads of star hotels, who had also been seeking extended business hours for the bars in their hotels upto 2 am.
The executives of star hotels who attended the meeting sought to drive home their point that such an extention would give a boost to the tourism industry.
Renukacharya said he would elicit views of officials of Home and Tourism departments at a meeting convened by him to discuss the demand of star hotels and later discuss it with Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa.
Bangalore Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari has said extending the business hours would pose law and order problems.