Clubbed into submission: Things going steadily downhill for Bangalore Club
BENGALURU: There were no fireworks, so sundowners this Fourth of July. In fact, things have gone steadily downhill for Bangalore Club, the classy retreat for Bengaluru's elite, ever since the first run-in with IPS officer RP Sharma.
After his skirmish with a security guard who stopped him on his way in, an enraged Sharma turned the spotlight on the highly exclusive club's liquor license. And predictably, things have reached a sad end for the institution, with the Bengaluru district administration rejecting its renewal application, banning the sale of alcohol on its premises.
Needless to say, this means a severe blow to the club, which has always been known for its high-profile members. The move has been called downright spiteful, a sour-grapes gesture by upstart politicians who have been denied memberships on several occasions.
"It's a highly vindictive episode and none of us members can actually even articulate this in the open," said a prominent member of the club. "The 147-year-old Bangalore Club is different from the rest, all the others are on land leased by the government. Bangalore Club owns the land and has its own rules of admission, just like any other private institution. This is just envy raising its ugly head. Why should politicians be granted entry?
Why should rules be bent for them? Why should all of us be made to pay the price?" he said, angrily. There is a way out, of course. The CL-4 license requires the Bangalore Club to run for five years without serving alcohol. Another option is the CL-9 license, which is usually granted to restaurants and pubs. The catch, of course, is that Bangalore Club will have to permit access to non-members, which means the highly exclusive institution will lose its glamour.
"Why should the club allow access to everyone?" asked another member, who frequents the premises. "People who haven't been given memberships are using the RP Sharma incident to ensure their own entry into the place. Why should this be allowed to happen?" Why regulate booze, asked another member. "Liquor is the largest revenue-earning component and there is a thriving black market trade. This move will only help the latter grow," he said, on condition of anonymity.
Another old member of the Club expresses regret in solidarity saying, "in my opinion is that this is a stronger tactics to get the Bangalore Club to be registered under Societies Act so that they become more vulnerable, more interference from the government and that is why there is a lot of pressure on the club." " Is the government putting the same pressure to come under Societies Act on Police Officers Mess Club, IAS Officers Club, KAS club to just name a few?", he asked.
" It is a clear attempt to get them under the purview where they are more controlled by the government. It seems quite clear. It is a shame that we are banning it beyond a certain point. This onslaught makes my teeth set on edge but the club needs to keep its spine straight and not kowtow to the obvious onslaught, the arm twisting. Through the Societies Act, the government will gain control," he added.
"Leave our club alone. It is a very reputed club with good people. This desperation is shameful. It is a joke that BBMP which is way younger in age than Bangalore Club is questioning the club's legality," said the same gentleman.
