Party, government will work in tandem: Sudheeran

Says KPCC will press ahead with anti-liquor movement

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president V.M. Sudheeran has said that he has differences with the State government over its move to give licences to closed liquor bars to function as beer and wine parlours, but the differences will not affect either the party or the government.

At a press conference here on Wednesday, Mr. Sudheeran said the KPCC was committed to working towards the proclaimed objective of the party to strive for total prohibition. As such, the KPCC would continue with its efforts to forge a movement against liquor. He was convinced about the all-round support for this policy going by the participation in his recently concluded Janapaksha Yatra from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram.

He said the party-Government Coordination Committee had decided to move forward despite the differences among leaders on the liquor policy. The government’s steps to bring in total prohibition within 10 years and the decision not to allow sale of hard liquor through bars were widely welcomed.

“At the same time, I have differences with the government over its decision to give licences for beer and wine parlours to the closed liquor bars. But the party and the government would continue to work in tandem irrespective of the differences. It would also take up the new challenge of winning the local body election,” he said.

Focus on polls

Mr. Sudheeran maintained that no one had gone back on their stand on the liquor policy. He said he would rather concentrate on preparing the party for the local body polls. As per the decision of the Congress leadership, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Mukul Wasnik and AICC secretary Deepak Barbria would hold a series of interactions with party leaders and workers.

The first phase of such interactions would be held from January 19 to 25 covering the districts from Kasaragod to Thrissur.

The second phase would begin on February 12 in Ernakulam and conclude on February 20.

Mr. Sudheeran said Tuesday’s meeting had decided to stage agitations against the policies of the Union government which had a direct bearing on the State’s economy.