The Rajasthan government is now considering to levy a 'cow cess' on liquor, after getting success in generating revenue for the protection of cows by imposing a surcharge on stamp duty. According to the Hindustan Times report, the proposal is still in the planning stage, and the government is yet to finalise the cess rate and the types of liquor on which it will be imposed. A government official as quoted in the report said, “Those buying liquor, however, will have to shell out more."

The proposal comes even as the government is thinking to double the surcharge on stamp duty for the protection of cows, from the existing 10 percent to 20 percent. Cow protection and conservation has always been the focus of the BJP government. Last year in April, government had imposed a 10 percent surcharge on all non-judicial instruments for the conservation and propagation of cows.

The government has reportedly managed to to generate around Rs 235 crore in revenue from the cow surcharge levied on stamp duty. Commenting on the government's decision to impose 'cow cess' on liquor, Rajasthan Minister Rajendra Singh Rathore said, "It's just a proposal and final decision will be taken by Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 08, 2018 12:48 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).