THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KPCC chief V M Sudheeran on Sunday said that he had not made any remark against Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in connection with the bar issue.
Talking to mediapersons here on Sunday, he said that he had in fact criticised the stand adopted by the Advocate General in the Court in connection with the liquor policy.
“I criticised the stand taken by the Advocate General and his lapses in informing the court about the facts. I did not make any remark against the Chief Minister or any other person in a responsible position. That was not my aim,” Sudheeran said.
He said that the workers in the Congress party supports him in the bar issue.
Sudheeran’s remarks on Sunday have come amid criticism from within the party. Oommen handy had said on Friday that no one needs to portray him as a supporter of the liquor lobby. Sudheeran said that no other issue has been discussed with such ardour in the party as the bar/liquor ban issue.
Sudheeran, who had taken the adamant stand from the beginning that the government should not allow the 418 bars to re-open, also expressed disagreement with Press Council of India Chairman Justice Markandeya Katju’s remark that liquor prohibition would lead to an increase in the crime rate.