Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Ramesh Chennithala has demanded the resignation of Excise Minister P.K. Gurudasan by owning up moral responsibility for the hooch tragedy.
Addressing a press conference after a meeting of the office-bearers of the KPCC and the District Congress Committee here on Wednesday, Mr. Chennithala said policies adopted by the Left Democratic Front government favouring the illicit liquor lobby had resulted in the tragedy that claimed so many lives.
Stating that spurious liquor was flowing in the State, the KPCC chief alleged that illicit liquor mafia was active in the State. He said the government had failed to take pre-emptive action despite being warned of such a tragedy.
Mr. Chennithala accused the government of being influenced by liquor, lottery, and land mafias.
He said the KPCC would organise dharnas at block Congress committee-level demanding a judicial inquiry into the controversy surrounding lottery issue and resignation of Ministers T.M. Thomas Isaac and P.K. Gurudasan. People's gathering would be organised on October 2 against the alleged sabotage of the Panchayat Raj system under the LDF rule.
Mr. Chennithala said the meeting decided to complete the seat-sharing discussions within the United Democratic Front for the upcoming elections to the local bodies by September 15. He said that the UDF would face the elections united by reaching decisions on seat allocation based on consensus to the maximum possible extent. As a prominent partner of the UDF, the Congress would adopt an inclusive stand towards its allies, he said.
Mr. Chennithala said youth would be given due prominence in seat allocation.
