Metropolitan Archbishop of the Latin Archdiocese of Thiruvananthapuram Soosa Pakiam M., who is also the chairman of the Kerala Catholic Bishop’s Council (KCBC), has lashed out at the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government over its alleged efforts to ease the restrictions imposed on liquor sales through its Excise policy.
He warned the government of setbacks by way of widespread resistance movements if it went ahead with the proposed move to “dilute” the existing policy by providing exemption in favour of liquor barons. “Any government that claims inability in curbing the drug menace, owing to the restrictions imposed on liquor sales, does not deserve to remain in power,” the Archbishop said.
He was interacting with mediapersons after inaugurating a seminar attended by prohibition activists and various organisations to discuss the current developments pertaining to liquor trade in the State.
He said the LDF had promised to adopt measures to bring down liquor sales in a phased manner prior to the Assembly elections. Prominent leaders of the coalition had also given an assurance that the bars that were closed down by the previous government would not be reopened. “However, recent statements by those who are part of the government give rise to much concern, particularly among those who have strived for prohibition for long. Besides, the government has also abandoned the policy of the previous government to close down 10 per cent of liquor outlets every year,” he said.
The Archbishop criticised the government for its alleged attempts to retain bar hotels and beer-wine parlours along the National and State highways. “It is a matter of shame that the government has sought the advice of the Attorney General, who had appeared for a bar hotel owner in a case challenging the previous government’s liquor policy. Such decisions strengthened claims that the government was acting on behalf of the liquor lobby,” he alleged.
He expressed dismay at the government’s decision to postpone the declaration of the Excise policy on account of the byelection in Malappuram. He suspected that the government feared a possible backlash by the public against its stance on the issue.
