Sachin Tendulkar not to attend Vimukthi'
Certain religious and anti-liquor outfits had earlier urged Mr. Tendulkar to keep off the mission.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The newly-formed Kerala State Abstinence Mission, ‘Vimukthi,’ will be formally launched on Sunday amidst protests from various quarters over its structure. Though the government had earlier announced that cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who is the brand ambassador of the mission, would be present for the event, he will not attend it. “We tried to get Mr. Tendulkar, but could not,” said Excise Commissioner Rishiraj Singh.
Certain religious and anti-liquor outfits, which opposed the constitution of the mission under the excise department, had also urged Mr. Tendulkar to keep off the mission. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will formally inaugurate the mission and launch one-year-long programmes. District-level meetings would be held from November 21 to 30 followed by regional and ward-level meetings.