Agreement alleged with liquor barons

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the debate hotting up on the liquor policy, it has been alleged that the government has entered into an agreement with the liquor lobby for adopting a practical approach and tweaking the excise policy accordingly.

The announcement made by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on the policy shift at the fag end of PCC chief Sudheeran’s yatra has put the government and the party at loggerheads.

The issue will figure prominently at the KPCC executive meeting  on December 10, which will be attended by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, and  the UDF meeting on December 15.

Leaders cutting across group affiliations would present their woes before Mr Rahul Gandhi when he will be here for two days next week.

A senior Congress leader said Mr Chandy should not have announced his stand on the liquor policy in the Assembly when Mr Sudheeran was set to close his yatra.

“Since Rahul Gandhi will attend the KPCC executive on Wednesday, there will be serious discussions,  especially on the liquor issue.

There has been a U-turn in the government’s stand on the liquor policy after the bargate scandal broke out,”  said an ‘I’ group leader.

But KC (J) chairman Johnny Nelloor maintained that the liquor policy was not practical.  Only 14 percent of liquor was being sold through bars and the remaining was  easily available through Bevco outlets.

“How can there be liquor ban in a phased manner when it is easily available? After Sundays were declared as dry days, business meetings have shifted to other South Indian cities and the  exchequer is losing heavily,” said Mr  Nelloor.