THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy reiterated in the Assembly on Thursday that changes would be made in the liquor policy in a ‘transparent manner’ after considering the court directives and practical issues raised by various quarters, even as KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran said in Kollam that there was no need for relaxations in the liquor policy.
Replying to a point of order in the Assembly, Mr. Chandy said: “We are going by our assurance in the election manifesto on phased prohibition.
However, court observations, practical problems and issues pertaining to workers in the sector have to be taken into consideration.
Any change in liquor policy will be taken only after detailed discussions in the UDF. Even many issues like issuing licence to beer and wine parlours and clubs were still pending.
A decision on all such issues will be taken only after detailed discussions in a transparent manner.”
Opposition Leader V.S. Achuthanandan who raised a point of order alleged that the present move to relax the liquor policy was aimed at helping bar owners.
“It has to be suspected that the government’s plan to relax the liquor policy was part of a ploy with bar owners to protect Finance Minister K.M. Mani.
The government was even losing the cases on the liquor policy in the court. What is the need for a change in the liquor policy at this point of time?
The Assembly is being made a mute spectator to the government’s unholy deeds,” said Mr. Achuthanandan.
He raised the point of order citing reports in a section of media that the present move to relax the liquor policy was the outcome of an unholy understanding with the bar owners.
Bribe CD given to VACB
CPM politburo member Kodiyeri Balakrishnan on Thursday handed over a CD to the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau.
According to Mr. Balakrishnan, the CD contained evidence regarding the bar bribery. Though he wanted to table the CD in the Assembly on Wednesday, Deputy Speaker N. Sakthan did not allow it.
