Southern States
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Kerala
An acid test for CM's idealism: Azhikode
By Our Staff Reporter
THRISSUR, DEC. 11. The noted critic, Prof. Sukumar Azhikode, today said that the liquor policy is an acid test of the idealism of the Chief Minister, Mr. A. K. Antony.
Addressing a press conference here, Prof. Azhikode said that there would always be a gap between idealism and power. "Mr. Antony should have reduced this gap. Instead, it has been widening."
Pointing out that the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) had set up a sub-committee to study the liquor policy as there were differences among the UDF partners, he said from this it was clear that the UDF partners had more of Gandhian legacy than the KPCC.
"The UDF has in fact retracted in a phased manner from its avowed policy of total prohibition in a phased manner. If what Mr. V. M. Sudheeran was saying was true, there is an erosion in the values upheld by the KPCC."
Coming down heavily on tele-serials and films which portray drinking as a glamorous matter, Prof. Azhikode said this portrayal of a hero taking to drinking after picking up a quarrel with his sister or mother on a trivial issue, was more dangerous than even the liquor policy of the KPCC. He observed that Kerala society was wandering between tears (of women) and alcohol.
Dismissing the issue of liquor as one pertaining to a traditional occupation of a particular caste, Prof. Azhikode said this was not an issue of caste. "It is a universal phenomenon and the greatest threat of the 21st century. It is an age when we had dropped many occupations because they were `uncultured' and `uncivilised' like the job of a sewage worker."
Commenting on the flow of illicit arrack even after the arrack ban, he said the flow of the illicit arrack would continue. "But that does not mean that we should not ban arrack. Can we ask for the dissolution of the police force for worsening the law and order situation? People like the legendary `Naranathu Brathan' will roll stones up to the top of mountain and then allow it to fall freely to the bottom. But that doesn't mean that stones should not be rolled up the mountain."
Prof. Azhikode announced that he would soon make a public appearance along with the senior Congress leader, Mr. V. M. Sudheeran, at a meeting to be held in Thrissur shortly, to air his views against the liquor policy.
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