The Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) has warned the government about an intense campaign to expose its liquor policy.
Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala and Indian Union Muslim League legislature party leader M.K. Muneer said on Saturday that the UDF would offer stiff resistance to the government’s attempt to ‘drown Kerala in liquor.’
In Thiruvananthapuram, Mr. Chennithala accused the LDF government of having misused the Supreme Court (SC) verdict to suit its convenience; in Kozhikode, Dr. Muneer said the new liquor policy would destroy the cultural fabric of the State.
Mr. Chennithala said the move to grant exemption from distance norms in panchayats with urban characteristics would result in every nook and cranny of the State being filled with bars. The government had earlier scrapped the norm that liquor shops could be opened only with No Objection Certificates from the local bodies concerned, he pointed out.
Dr. Muneer, who was speaking to reporters, said the claim that lack of liquor availability would affect the tourism prospects would not hold water as most of the foreign tourists landed in Kerala either to explore the historical heritage or for Ayurveda treatment.
“Kerala is not like Bangkok where tourists go to seek worldly pleasures. Those who come here may not care much about liquor availability,” Dr. Muneer said.
Former KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran also came down heavily on the liquor policy saying the government’s claims about rise in drug sale and fall in tourist arrivals in the State had been proved baseless with figures showing that there was an increase in tourist arrivals between 2014 and 2016. The last one year has also shown increase in sale and use of drugs, he pointed out.
BJP’s stance
In yet another statement, BJP State president Kummanam Rajasekharan said the government decision to open more bars was intended to return the favours received from bar owners during the Assembly elections.
