KOZHIKODE: Assembly polls have strengthened the voice of teetotalers who have been fighting for the reintroduction of Section 232 and 447 of the Panchayati Raj Nagarapalika Act, which gives right to the local bodies to ban the sale of alcohol in its limit.
The Kerala Madya Nirodhana Samithi activists, who have been on indefinite strike, have come up with a campaign to cast votes to the political party that promises a complete ban on liquor.
Completing 932-day Satyagraha in front of Malappuram Collectorate demanding complete ban on liquor, the Samithi is all set to campaign for the front that include ban on liquor in their election manifesto.
“We have approached both the fronts and the UDF Convener P P Thangachan has promised us to ban liquor if UDF wins the election,” said Iyyachery Kunhikrishnan, general secretary of the Samithi.
“However, we have received only oral promise and we would take a final decision only if the party includes the promise in their manifesto. If the LDF is ready to include the promise in their manifesto, we would consider them also,” cleared Kunhikrishnan.
Commencing their protest in 1999 when the right of the local bodies to ban the sale of liquor was lifted by the then government, the Kerala Madya Nirodhana Samithi members believe that women who were worst affected by drunkards would cast their vote to the political front who are willing to impose ban on it. The teetotalers have also decided to take out vehicle campaigns and distribution of pamphlets to spread awareness, said Padmini Kunhikrishnan.
The Madya Nirodhana Samithi had submitted a memorandum with three lakh signature to the then Chief Minister A K Antony demanding the inclusion of Section 232 and 447 of Panchayati Raj Nagarapalika Act in August 2002.
Starting satyagraha on May 1, 2008 at Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur, the location was shifted to Malappuram from August 2008.
“In 2009, we submitted a memorandum signed by 10 lakh women, to Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan. A committee called Mahila memorial chaired by Sara Joseph was also formed to fight the social menace,” said the General secretary.
Malappuram district panchayat, the largest district panchayat in the state, and many other panchayats have also passed resolution demanding the reintroduction of their right to ban liquor, he pointed out.
The workers of the Madya Nirodhana Samithi pointed out that their request was not considered by the LDF government. Neither the chief minister, nor the education and finance minister were ready to promise a ban on liquor even after repeated demands, they criticised.
When asked about their stance in case both the UDF and the LDF denies to give any promise in the manifesto, the general secretary of the samithi said that they would conduct a meeting on March 15 to finalise their decision.