The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee plans to oppose the liquor policy of the Left Democratic Front government.
The Congress has decided to take the opposition to the streets.
“The liquor promotion policy of the government will be opposed. We demand the withdrawal of two recent decisions. One is reducing the minimum distance between bars and places of religious worship and the other, denotifying stretches of state highways to facilitate functioning of bars in cities and towns,” said KPCC president MM Hassan, reports Times of India.
“Simultaneous protests will be organised in all districts on September 11,” Hassan said.
“There will be a Secretariat march by Congress workers while in all other districts, marches will be taken out to the district collectorates,” he added.
The KPCC chief demanded a probe into the changes made to the excise rules saying that huge corruption is suspected and criticised the Excise minister’s statement that the policy was relaxed for the benefit of tourists.
“Whether the government would start bars within places of worship too just because some tourists visit those places. It may not be surprising if this government allows bar-attached educational institutions,” Hassan said.
Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said that the government, which came to power with the promise of abstinence, has opened the doors for liquor barons.
“The UDF will also protest against the dilutions in liquor policy. UDF high power committee is meeting on September 14 and a decision on the further course of action will be taken then,” he said.
“Each day the government issues fresh orders that will result in the flow of liquor in the state. This is the result of the conspiracy the LDF has hatched with the bar owners, the people of the state will not accept this,” Chennithala said.
The government recently decided to reduce the minimum distance to be maintained by bar hotels from educational institutions, places of worship to 50 metres from the existing 200 metres.
On June 9, the government had reversed the liquor policy, paving the way for reopening of closed bar outlets in hotels classified as three-star and above.