Kochi/Thiruvananthapuram
Both the opposition Congress and BJP criticized the Kerala Left government’s liquor policy, alleging that Excise Minister M B Rajesh and Tourism Minister P A Mohammed Riyas misled the public by denying discussions about ending the dry day rule. Congress questioned CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s silence and demanded a vigilance probe, while BJP reminded Vijayan of similar controversies leading to jail time for other leaders.
Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan demanded a vigilance probe into the allegations, dismissing claims of no discussions as blatant lies. He accused both ministers of meeting with bar owners to devise a favorable liquor policy, warning of protests against the bar scam.
Satheesan criticized the Tourism Department’s interference and questioned its urgency. He alleged that discussions on the liquor policy had been ongoing for months, with bar owners participating in a meeting.
BJP’s V Muraleedharan accused the CPI (M) of distancing itself from the issue and criticized Excise Minister Rajesh for allegedly concealing details of his foreign trip. Muraleedharan questioned Rajesh’s income source for the trip, citing information from the External Affairs ministry.
The controversy arose amid reports of the government considering scrapping the dry day norm, triggering accusations of bribery from the UDF. Despite denials from the government, the issue escalated after an audio clip purportedly revealed bar association members discussing payments for policy favors.
