Congress alleges LDF-liquor lobby nexus, accuses Pinarayi of planning to reopen bars

Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala alleged that the Pinarayi Vijayan government is all set to allow liquor outlets on two national highways The High Court had recently ordered the re-opening of beer parlours and liquor retail outlets on the Thiruvananthapuram-Cherthala stretch "Not a single political party or organisation has asked for opening closed down bars. The only people who have demanded this is the liquor lobby" Chennithala pointed out.

The Congress on Thursday accused the LDF government of having ties with the liquor lobby in the state and alleged that they are planning to reopen the closed down liquor shops on national highways. 

The Kerala High Court had ordered reopening of beer and wine parlours and state-run liquor retail outlets on the 173-km Thiruvananthapuram-Cherthala stretch on Wednesday, saying that it is not a national highway. 

Speaking at a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram, opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala alleged that the Pinarayi Vijayan government is all set to allow the liquor outlets on two national highways in the state to open even before the new liquor policy is unveiled this month. The Congress leader also said that the party would call a meeting of UDF allies on June 9 to decide on steps to counter reopening of bars.

"Not a single political party, organisation or anybody has asked for opening closed down bars. The only people who have demanded this is the liquor lobby. We allege that this new development smells of corruption. The UDF is meeting on 9th of this month to work out what needs to be done, which includes even seeking legal recourse should the closed down bars are allowed to open," IANS quoted Chennithala as saying.

Chennithala also reminded that CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury, in his election campaign last year, had said that the LDF would not allow the bars to open again, if they come into power.

"The general secretary of the CPM, Sitaram Yechury, as part of his election campaign in April last year had assured the people here that not a single closed down bar would be opened if their party comes to power," Chennithala said.

In 2015, the UDF government, led by Oommen Chandy, had closed down around 700 bars in the state.