Rift deepens over Mahe liquor shops

MAHE: The rift between Art of Living and Mayyazhikoottam, the two associations who are the frontrunners of the anti-liquor campaign in Mahe, deepened over the case in the Supreme Court on closure of liquor shops along National Highways in Mahe. 

The Mayyazhikkoottam accused the Art of Living (AOL) of hobbling their efforts by not making any headway in presenting documents supporting the arguments in the court by its advocate. However, AOL strongly condemned the allegations and clarified that the organization had no role in the case and had not appointed an advocate.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, AOL ‘Lahari Vimuktha Mahe’ Chairman D Mohanan said that AOL was very active in the liquor prohibition movement in Mahe and Kerala and had pledged itself to taking a stand for society.

“However, the accusations by Mayyazhikkottam are baseless. We were never a part of the court case and no advocates had been appointed. The advocate whom the Mayyazhikkottam is accusing of not submitting documents, is just a member of our organisation and we have nothing to do with it,” he said. He added that AOL would morally support all the efforts of the Liquor Prohibition Council in future too.

The Prohibition Council is the respondent in the special leave petition submitted by the Puducherry government in the apex court against the Madras High Court order directing the state government to follow the union government circular directing removal of bars along the NH.

According to a circular issued by the Union Road Transport and Highways on March 11, 2013, all liquor shops along the National Highways should be removed because of the high number of fatalities in road accidents in India. But till date, the Puducherry government has not complied with the circular and is running liquor shops along the national highways.

Among the administrative units of the Union territory, Mahe is the smallest in area and population, but the number of IMFLs is higher than in any other region except the Puducherry unit.