Liquor policy a ruse to make money: Pinarayi

Criticising ruling UDF for its move to bring about changes in its liquor policy, CPI(M) today said this much-touted policy was a ploy scripted by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Excise Minister K Babu for indulging in bargaining and corrupt deals.
"As the script progresses it is becoming increasingly clear that this has been prepared to strike bargains and indulge in corruption," party state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters here.
He was referring to the decision of the High Power Committee of UDF to make changes in the liquor policy, overruling the objections from sections in the Congress.
Vijayan said the LDF would not go back on its demand for resignation of Finance Minister K M Mani, facing a Vigilance case for graft allegations hurled at him by bar owners.

Despite opposition from the KPCC President V M Sudheeran, UDF had yesterday given authority to the government to make "practical changes" in the liquor policy.
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and Socialist Janata Democratic (SJD), both constituents of the ruling front, had also expressed reservation over changes in the policy at the meeting held here.
Sudheeran, who has astutely campaigned for reducing the availability of liquor for leading the state to total prohibition, had opposed dilution of the policy.