Kanam Rajendran hints at reopening bars shut down by UDF

Thiruvananthapuram: CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran has given enough hints at reopening the bars the UDF government closed. Mr Rajendran told reporters here on Saturday that the LDF would bring in changes in the liquor policy. Mr Oommen Chandy has no right to enforce a lifelong alcohol policy, he said.

The LDF will discuss and decide a new policy as there was a court ruling that it should be announced every April. He said the availability of liquor had not been reduced in the state and that the people’s verdict was against the liquor policy of the UDF government. He made it clear that the policy of the LDF was not liquor ban but abstinence from it.

Any organisation including Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KSBC) can cooperate with the campaign against alcohol initiated by the government. The LDF will not ban liquor as a complete ban was not practical. There is no place in the world which successfully enforced prohibition. However, there should be efforts to educate the people against the use of liquor.

Mr Kanam refused to comment on the chief minister post saying that the CPM had the freedom to choose its parliamentary party leader. On the CPI ministers, he said the state party panel would decide them. He said he was not interested in reacting further. CPI had won 70 percent of seats contested, Mr Kanam said.

Pinarayi holds informal talks with CPI leaders

After calling upon V.S. Achutanandan, Pinarayi Vijayan headed straight to CPI state headquarters M N Smarakam and held discussions with the leaders. CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran, CPI national executive council member Pannyan Raveendran and other CPI leader were present in the meeting. The CPM-CPI had informal discussions on the government formation and policy issues, Pinarayi said.