Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council today hit out at the Congress-led UDF government for awarding bar licenses to six five-star hotels and said the move goes against the proposed prohibition of liquor in a phased manner in the state.
The KCBC, which has been extending support to the government ever since it formulated a new liquor policy, condemned the recent decision of the government to award the bar licences which it said has put into question the "credibility and efficacy" of the state government's liquor policy.
In a statement signed by KCBC deputy secretary Fr Varghese Vallikkatt and KCBC Anti-Liquor Committee secretary Fr T J Antony said, "such actions will invite criticism that some people in the leadership of the government are working in favour of liquor lobby."
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said his government had no role in the grant of bar licences to new five-star hotels and it was done by the Centre as part of its tourism policy.
However, the Centre has denied Chandy's claim.
Chandy has also made it clear that UDF would not dilute its policy, envisaging total prohibition in Kerala in 10 years.
KPCC President V M Sudheeran, who has been at the forefront of the anti-liquor campaign, has said UDF will not dilute its liquor policy.
The issue has triggered a row with CPI(M) veteran V S Achuthanandan attacking the government, saying it has exposed the government's "fake (liquor) policy" to dupe the public.
The KCBC also criticised the liquor policy of the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), saying their policy of abstinence was impractical.
