Kerala Congress to protest bar relaxations
The UDF has also decided to organise a slew of protests, after its meeting here on Sept 14.
Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress party will stage dharnas in front of Secretariat and district collectorates on September 11 to protest the LDF government's decision to relax distance limits for bars at four-star and above category hotels. The UDF has also decided to organise a slew of protests, after its meeting here on Sept 14.
Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala alleged that the government came to power promising to abstain from promoting liquor barons, but day by day they were trying to drown Malayalis in alcohol.
“This shows the unholy nexus between liquor barons and the Left as the former helped them to come to power. LDF government resorted to denotify highways in the state (to help them circumvent court restrictions). Every day this government is bringing new notifications to help liquor barons,” he said.
He alleged new notifications to help them were being issued under the guise of promoting the tourism industry.
KPCC president M. M. Hassan said the excise minister T. P. Ramakrishnan's claim that the distance reduced for the sake of tourism was misleading.
"I would like to know whether the minister will open bars in Christian churches too to woo the tourists," he said.
He also took a dig at the Left saying it would not be a surprise if they decided to open bar-attached schools and religious institutions.