The Temperance Commission of the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) has asked the State government not to move ahead with its decision to retain bars and wine and beer parlours on the highway side by restricting the relevant Supreme Court order to government outlets alone.
In a statement here on Thursday, Bishop Remigius Inchananiyil, chairman, KCBC, said the Cabinet decision in this regard was not only discriminatory but also invited contempt of court proceedings. Alleging a hidden agenda on the decision, the church said the advice given by the Attorney General was not legally correct.
Normally, the Abkari policy was to be declared in the month of March. However, this time the government had decided to postpone it till the byelection was over in Malappuram Lok Sabha. “They are afraid that the people’s ire would reflect in the elections,” the statement said.
The KCBC warned the government against any attempt to suppress the people’s agitation through brute force. The struggle against liquor was spreading all over the country, it said and added that the Temperance Council had activated the 31 diocesan-level units to keep vigil on the issue.
