THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KPCC president V M Sudheeran on Tuesday further toughened his stand on the bar licence issue by reiterating that he would not climb Down from his position.
Asked whether he had made any change in his position that none of the closed 418 bars should be opened, in the wake of the difference of opinion within the party, he said that it was not his stand that the bars should not be opened but the collective decision of the party.
Earlier he said that he had not changed his stand on the bar licence issue.
He said that after several decades, a situation has emerged with the public in general speaking against liquor. The closure of bars may result in job loss to a group of people. But the peace it would bring in society was more important, he said. The bar issue need not be highlighted as a political issue, the KPCC chief said.
Sudheeran pointed out that Congress and Muslim League had been toeing the same line to help evolve a liquor-free society. The Muslim Youth League and MSF have also made their stand against liquor clear. But some of the mainstream parties are yet to take a strong position against liquor, he said.
Sudheeran added that the UDF’s policy was to reduce the availability of liquor. And it is duty-bound to pursue the line against liquor for the welfare of society.