THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KPCC chief V. M. Sudheeran has sought the support of the devotees of Sree Narayana Guru to implement the state government’s liquor policy. Presiding over the 87th death anniversary celebrations of Guru held at Sivagiri, Mr Sudheeran said that as a social activist he felt satisfied at the moment.
Mr Sudheeran said the UDF government was enforcing the anti-liquor activities propagated by the Guru which required the support of the people. He clarified that he was not against those who spoke against the liquor policy. Their loss was behind their objection, he added.
“The government is trying to fulfil the dream of a liquor-free Kerala. If this has to be achieved, it requires the full support of the public, especially from the devotees of the Guru. Liquor policy is not the policy of any party.
The public should make the liquor policy a success,” he said.
The community leaders belonging to Sivagiri Mutt and SNDP Yogam hit out against each other. Sivagiri Mutt general secretary Swami Rithambharananda alleged that the devotees of Guru could not digest the stand of Mr Vellapally and hoped that he would change his approach. But Mr Vellapally claimed that the Sivagiri Mutt was established with the funds of the liquor lobby and that the SNDP was least bothered about the criticisms. He said there was no change in his stand that the liquor policy was impractical.
Excise Minister K. Babu reiterated Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s statement that even though there were some practical difficulties, the government would not go back on the announced policy.
