Kerala liquor issue: Wine is a matter of tradition, says VM Sudheeran
PCC chief said that christian churches should decide on prohibition of wine
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-08-26 06:28 GMT
Thiruvananthapuram: The wine that Christians use during Mass has been dragged into the liquor controversy even as Congress leaders, including PCC chief V.M. Sudheeran and Excise Minister K. Babu, continued to fire salvoes against each other. While SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellapally Natesan said that wine should be prohibited along with liquor, Mr Sudheeran rebuffed him saying wine had always been part of Christian tradition. He also asked whether a centuries-old custom practised by Christians should be banned.
Mr Sudheeran told reporters here that Christian churches should decide whether wine has to be prohibited. There was no need for any external interference in the matter, he said. Referring to Mr K. Babu’s criticism against him, he said that he had not found fault with anyone on the bar row and pointed out only the anomalies in the stand of the Advocate-General. He was not keen to create further controversies, he added
“Babu was right in his remark about a probable hooch tragedy occurring in the state. When there was such an intelligence report, the Chief Minister, Home Minister, Excise Minister and Revenue Minister acted and various departments were put on vigil. This prevented a tragedy for which I congratulate the government. But I don’t know why Babu has criticised me,” said Mr Sudheeran.
The government would consider giving notice before the bars are shut down, he said. He also welcomed the Opposition support for the bar policy.
Mr Babu said it was improper for Mr Sudheeran to criticise the AG as it was equivalent to criticising the government. Mr T.N. Prathapan MLA asked who commands more respect – Mr Babu or Mr Sudheeran.Mr Natesan too came down heavily on Mr Sudheeran later saying that he is a good-for-nothing leader.