KOCHI: The social media websites were abuzz with diverse opinions about the measures announced by the State Government for the prohibition of alcohol.
As usual, the Twitter members were divided over the pros and cons of the decision, but no one could give a perfect response.
The highest praise for the decision came from Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan), Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare. He tweeted, “I fully endorse Kerala CM Mr Chandy’s decision to restrict liquor sales in Kerala from 2015. Now Kerala will truly become God’s own country.”
But, some of the prominent figures in the medium shed light on how the prohibition could lead to rise in the number of criminals and crime syndicates. Hartosh Singh Bal (@HartoshSinghBal), political editor of Caravan Magazine, tweeted, “Kerala alcohol ban, like Gujarat all set to gain, consumers get home delivery, politicians, admn on the take, only govt deprived of revenue”.
Actor and filmmaker Pooja Bhatt (@PoojaB1972) tweeted, “bars being shut down in Kerala. State Congress president pushing for total prohibition. Great way to ensure a flourishing black market.”
Nitin Pai (@acorn), director of think tank ‘The Takshashila Institution’ put his view in one short tweet, “at one go, the Kerala govt legislates hypocrisy, ignores empirical evidence and encroaches on freedom. It’s not being criticised enough,”.
The top journalists among the twitterati could not miss to see the political context of the decision. Vice-chairman of the India Today Group Shekar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) tweeted, “Cong in Kerala smoking something, or hit by the ‘ban the dance bars’ RR Patil virus fm Mumbai? Has it brought any political gain in Maha?”
While the serious ones were busy pondering the pros and cons, the light-hearted ones were quick to crack jokes on the decision.
The star joke which was re-tweeted by as many by 241 people was the one by Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats), “Kerala insists on trying things that have repeatedly failed elsewhere. Prohibition. Communism. Cooking in coconut oil...”