UDF leaders want change in bar policy

Thiruvananthapuram:  UDF leaders, who met Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday evening, demanded changes  in the bar policy and stressed the need for unity among senior Congress leaders as it affected the UDF Government’s image.

Talks progressed at Hotel Mascot for more than two hours, with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Home minister Ramesh Chennithala and other senior Congress leaders in attendance.

KC(M) leader K. M. Mani and Muslim League leaders P. K. Kunhalikutty and K P A Majeed  met Mr Gandhi separately.

These leaders who were huddled with Rahul for more than 10 minutes wanted him to impress on Sudheeran to adopt a practical approach to the liquor policy.

Later other allies- RSP, KC (J) and Socialist Janata (Democratic) leaders met Mr Gandhi  and raised their concerns about the hastily taken bar policy.

While RSP leaders Shibu Baby John and A. A. Azeez demanded for change in the liquor policy, KC (J) chairman Johnny Nelloor iterated a practical approach.

The latter maintained that if the UDF is taking merely an ideological approach towards liquor policy, it would not help the Government. SJ (D) secretary general Varghese George urged Mr Gandhi to tweak the  liquor policy and help end  internal squabbles in Congress.