Kerala's United Democratic Front govt members divided over liquor ban

KOCHI: With the deadline for the closure of liquor bars fast approaching in Kerala, the new liquor policy of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has come under attack from some parties within the Front. But chief minister Oommen Chandy has stuck to his stand making it clear that there is no going back on the policy.

Inaugurating the 160th birthday celebrations of Sree Narayana Guru at Varkala, Chandy said there will be a loss of Rs 8,000 crore to Rs 9,000 crore due to the prohibition policy in the state. "But this is noth ing when we take into account the ill effects due to the consumption of liquor," he added.

Finance minister K M Mani has reportedly said he should not be blamed if there was no money for development projects. He said he was the real victim of the ban on liquor.

Labour minister Shibu Baby John of the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) said the real victim will be the state of Kerala. He said the government should amend the liquor policy if it was found to be wrong. Kera la Congress (Jacob) group leader Johnny Nelloor also criticised the liquor policy the government has announced.

However, Chandy has made it clear he will not change his stand. According to the government order, the 312 liquor bars in the state will have to close down their operations on September 12.

Kerala bar owners have approached the Supreme Court challenging this order after their petition for an interim stay was rejected by the Kerala High Court.

The state has decided to introduce total prohibition by closing 10% of retail shops every year for the next 10 years. Excise minister K Babu said the government was getting good support from people for its liquor policy.