LDF government is trying to dilute liquor policy: Congress

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPI-M led LDF government in Kerala is trying to sabotage the liquor policy implemented during the previous UDF regime, Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said today.

The government's move to rescind the previous dispensation's decision to close down 10 per cent of the retail outlets of Kerala State Beverage Corporation was the first step in this regard, Chennithala told reporters here.

He alleged that it was part of an agreement between CPI-M and the liquor lobby in the state before assembly polls.

The UDF government had shut down nearly 700 foreign liquor bars attached to hotels that are below the Five Star category as part of its liquor policy that envisaged having total prohibition in 10 years time by reducing availability of liquor.

As part of the policy, it had decided to shut down 10 per cent of retail outlets of Beverage Corporation every year on October 2, the Gandhi Jayanthi day.

Commenting on the political violence in the Kerala, Chennithala said both BJP at the Centre and CPI-M heading the state government should eschew violence to put an end to the clashes.

"Leaders of both these parties in the state are encouraging violence in the state," he alleged.

Criticising the functioning of LDF government headed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Chennithala alleged that the government had failed totally in checking the frequent occurrence of hi-tech thefts through bank ATMs and wanted the probe into such thefts to be conducted by a central agency as the fraud had international links.

Targeting Vijayan, who also holds the Home portfolio, for alleged lapses in conduct of the Soumya rape and murder case in the Supreme Court, he alleged that failure of the home department resulted in the apex court reversing the death sentence of the accused, Govindachamy in the case.