THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Reiterating that there was no need for effecting any change in the Abkari policy announced in August this year, KPCC president V M Sudheeran on Saturday said that shutting down of bars was the collective decision of the UDF government. He termed claims that the tourism sector would be affected by the closure of bars, ‘baseless’ .
Addressing a news conference here as part of imparting the message of his ‘Janapaksha Yathra’, he said that it was not not his unilateral decision or a decision taken in hasty manner. He pointed out that implementing total prohibition on the state in a phased manner was the policy of the UDF government.
Pointing out that the Abkari policy was adopted after prolonged discussions, he said that efforts to limit the sale of liquor had strengthened from the time of K Karunakaran itself.
Stressing his point further, he said A K Antony’s tenure as chief minsiter had seen the ban on arrack and now when Oommen Chandy came to power, the Abkari policy was introduced.
He said that the CAG’s remarks on liquor sale, the Supreme Court’s observation against liquor businesses and the emergence of an anti-liquor atmosphere across the state paved the way for the government to take the decision on the closure of bars.
Pointing out that the High Court Single Bench and the division benches had endorsed the ban, he said that the government had the right to present its case before the High Court and Supreme Court and that it was the constitutional right of the Government to prepare policies and insist on implementing them.
‘Limited Impact on Foreigners’
Sudheeran said foreigners were visiting the state to know more about our culture and not to drink. “Foreigners are here for learning about our culture. They are not here to drink. In fact, the absence of bars will only boost family, health and pilgrimage tourism. Claims that bar closure will doom tourism industry is baseless. There should be a correct analysis on such subjects before arriving at a conclusion,” he opined.
He then pointed out that no one could stand against decisions that aimed at the welfare of the people and said even the LDF could not arrive at a stand on the issue.
New Members
Looking at enrolling 40 lakh people to the party, he said a new membership campaign would be launched ahead of the organisational elections. “Anyone interested in joining the party would be given membership. This time, every member will be given equal opportunity to contest elections”, he said.
As part of Janapaksha yatra, Sudheeran paid floral tributes at Martyrs’ square, Palayam, and at the statues of B R Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose, Swami Vivekananda, Ayyankali, Kumaranasan, Ulloor S Parameswara Iyer, Swadesabhimani Ramakrishnapillai and others.
Yatra Valedictory
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will address the Valedictory function of the Janapaksha yathra at Putherikandam maidan on December 9. He will also address the joint meeting of KPCC executive members, ministers, parliamentary party leaders, MPs, MLAs, DCC presidents and other senior party functionaries on December 10 at Indira Bhavan here at 10 am. Sudheeran will preside over the meeting. Congress Working Committee member A K Antony, Vayalar Ravi, AICC general secretary
Mukul Vasnik, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala will attend the function.