The chief minister slammed the Opposition for opposing the policy.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Tuesday dared the LDF to make it clear whether they would tinker with the Supreme Court-recognised government's liquor policy if they come to power.
At the cabinet briefing, the chief minister slammed the Opposition for opposing the policy. "The Opposition had all along criticised us saying the liquor policy was brought in hastily, without any study and it would not stand legal scrutiny. Now the Supreme Court has also recognised our policy," he said.
"What is the Opposition stand now? Will they support the policy?" he asked. Chandy said the Supreme Court verdict was a recognition of the UDF government's liquor policy.
"The UDF government's liquor policy did not happen in a day. Right from the time of K. Karunakaran, A. K. Antony and now in my tenure, the UDF policy has been the same. It is to reduce the availability of liquor gradually and reach a stage of making hard liquor extinct from the state," he said.
On the discrimination in allowing bars in five star hotels and posh clubs, the chief minister said: "Providing liquor through 27 five star hotels mainly to tourists is no way comparable to selling liquor through hundreds of outlets across the state. Isn't there a difference? We are closing down 10 per cent beverages outlets annually and all these steps were towards attaining total prohibition. However, considering the needs of all sections, we have allowed beer and wine parlours."
He said the government would give top priority for rehabilitation of workers in the bar sector. The chief minister requested all sections of society to cooperate with the government.
On the warning sounded by bar owners that more revelations would be made against ministers, the chief minster said the government had an open mind on the issue.
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