New bar licence only for previous holders: Minister T P Ramakrishnan
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Bar licences would be given only for those who had them earlier and no fresh licences would be allowed, Excise Minister T.P. Ramakrishnan told the Assembly on Monday. But the Opposition alleged that the LDF was facilitating the opening of liquor outlets as part of a nexus with the bar owners. It staged a walkout after permission was denied for an adjournment motion on the issue. "Based on the new guidelines, those who were earlier having bar licences can submit fresh applications. A decision would be taken after examining the applications," he said in reply to the adjournment notice.
The Opposition also alleged that the LDF that came to power by promising to reduce the availability of liquor had deviated from its policy and facilitated the opening of more liquor outlets. While the minister maintained that the government was going by court directives, the Opposition said that the LDF government had sought exemptions in the restrictions on liquor outlets within 500 metres from highways. Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala said that already the government had allowed five new bar licences. "The government's decisions in favour of liquor lobbies confirms bar owner Biju Ramesh's allegations that CPM leaders had persuaded him to raise the bar bribery allegations against K.M. Mani," he said.
Congress leader K.C. Joseph who gave the notice for the adjournment motion said that while the excise minister reiterated that no new bars would be allowed, excise commissioner Rishi Raj Singh had directed the excise officials to consider applications as per the new guidelines. The minister said that the LDF had been maintaining a practical approach and hence it allowed bars in three-star hotels. Thousands of workers of toddy shops and bars were remaining jobless. He said that the Congress governments in Karnataka and Punjab had even de-notified highways or amended abkari rules to overcome the restrictions imposed by the Supreme Court on liquor outlets.
Senior Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi had appeared for bar owners in the court seeking relaxations in the restrictions on the outlets. The Opposition alleged that the government was giving more priority to liquor than drinking water issues as it was taking swift action on court directives in favour of liquor lobbies. Kerala Congress (M) leader K.M. Mani, who also joined the walkout, said that it was unfortunate that the government was favouring opening of liquor outlets as an employment generation option. BJP leader O. Rajagopal also staged a walkout.
