Bangalore, November 13: No pork, no liquor, no dance — Bangalore’s big brand Windsor Manor Sheraton should be a sober version of itself, if the state government’s solution becomes the compromise formula to the years-old impasse of the hotel lease. The lease will be renewed only if the tenets of Islam are accepted as part of it.
Haj, Wakfs and minority welfare minister Mumtaz Ali Khan told reporters here on Thursday: “The High Court suggested that the State Wakfs Board and hotel management arrive at a consensus. We have evolved a solution. They can sign a new agreement and run the hotel on the tenets of Islam. If they consent, we have no problem.” He said the hotel should not cook or serve pork, and ban liquor. In the new agreement, rent wouldn’t be fixed, but would be based on the profit, meaning a certain portion of it. Once the hotel agrees, further modalities would be worked out.
The case is coming up for hearing in the first week of December, and this new formula would be presented, Khan said.
Meanwhile, the Wakfs Board council has written to the hotel management to give consent to measure the area, including built-up area, to evaluate the property as per the present market value. “The management is yet to reply to this,” said the minister. When contacted, hotel sources declined to comment, stating that since the matter was in court, it would be sub-judice.
—Agencies