KOCHI: KPCC president V M Sudheeran blamed the media for not supporting the government in its liquor policy.
Speaking at the centenary conference of the Kerala Latin Catholic Association (KLCA) here on Sunday, Sudheeran alleged that the media highlighted only the negatives aspects of the issue.
“Consumption of liquor came down by around 2.35 crore litres in fiscal 2014 -15 from the preceding year, which the media ignored,” said Sudheeran.
He also stated that the KPCC had recommended the State Government to issue ‘pattayams’ to fishermen, and that democracy would not sustain without protecting the rights of minorities.
Syro Malabar Church head Cardinal George Alencherry, who inaugurated the conference, said that Christian churches had the moral strength to make political parties ‘think’. He pointed out that new laws were being enforced under the guise of implementing the recommendations of various commissions.
Referring to the Latin Catholic community’s apprehensions over the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification, the Cardinal said the purpose of laws should be the welfare of people.
Archbishop of Verapoly Francis Kallarackal, who presided over the function, said that laws that adversely affect the coastal people should be reviewed. KLCA state president Shaji George alleged that the government was ignoring peoples’ issues, and that it was focused only on bribes and the UDF rallies.
K V Thomas MP, BJP state secretary A N Radhakrishnan, Kochi Mayor Tony Chammany, Ludy Louis MLA, KLCA Verapoly president P M Benjamin, secretary T J John, Kerala Regional Latin Catholic Council (KRLCC) general secretary Fr Francis and Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Science registrar Victor George also spoke.