UDF authorises Ministry to take decision on liquor policy

Despite opposition from KPCC President V M Sudheeran, a meeting of ruling Congress-led UDF today authorised the government headed by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to take a decision on necessary practical changes to be made in the new liquor policy.
UDF also extended full support to State Finance Minister K M Mani against whom a FIR has been registered in the bar bribery scam.
Indian Union Muslim League and Socialist Janata Democratic (SJD) also expressed reservation over changes in the liquor policy at the meeting held here.
Sudheeran opposed the changes mooted by Chandy and said there was no need for any alteration.

Sudheeran also wanted a comprehensive study on the impact of the policy instead of relying on the suggestions of a few departments like tourism.
Admitting that Sudheeran did not agree to the changes, Chandy told a a press conference after the meeting that UDF entrusted the cabinet to make practical changes without in any way affecting the basic nature of the policy.

The new policy announced in August last envisaged total prohibition in stages in ten years time. The policy limited foreign liquor bars to five-star category hotels, besides closing down retail outlets of Kerala State Beverages' Corporation in a phased manner.

Court observations, impact of the policy on tourism sector and problems faced by workers of the closed bars after the policy came into effect would be considered while making changes, Chandy said.
The meeting decided to keep out Kerala Congress (B) MLA K B Ganesh Kumar from the UDF parliamentary party as an action for levelling corruption charges against three staff members of Public Works Department Ministry headed by V K Ebrahim Kunju of IUML.
UDF was of the view that Kumar violated coalition principles.