Now, protests spreading across Kerala against relocated liquor shops

 

Even as they shouted slogans, it had an unusual rhythm, unlike the ordinary political sloganeering of students' unions. The girls in school uniform were actually singing out their protest. They swayed and nodded together with the music of the instant slogans they coined against the liquor outlet opened a shop near their school in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday morning. 

 

However, it was certainly not music to the ears of the state-run liquor monopoly (Beverages Corporation -Bevco) that slyly opened its outlet near the school at Nandankode in Kerala capital, allegedly flouting all norms. 
 

When teachers and students of Holy Angels Girls School arrived at school on Thursday morning, they noticed a brand new outlet of Bevco very close by. The Bevco had slyly shifted its outlet from a  junction nearby to the school neighbourhood to comply with the recent Supreme Court order banning liquor shops along National Highways and State Highways. 
 

Related: No liquor shops on highway from April 1, warns SC
 

Outraged by what they called a blatant violation of existing rules that prohibit liquor sales near schools, dozens of students laid siege to the outlet at 9. a.m, shouting slogans. The students also blocked the road, forcing the authorities to take heed. 
 

Also read: No more queues! small counters give way to liquor supermarkets in  Kerala
 

The news of the unprecedented student protest, without the support of any political party or organisation, spread fast. K Muraleedharan MLA, who was preparing for an indefinite fast in front of Kerala Law Academy in the capital, rushed to support the girls. Veteran poet Sugata Kumari and residents also joined in. 

The instant protest paid off. The Secretary of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation rushed to the spot and assured them that the liquor shop would be shifted from the locality and sealed it, while the students cheered loud. 
 

Also read: Cash raining at Kerala's liquor retailer; employees on the run with money
 

In less than an hour of protest, the students brought the authorities to their knees and emerged victorious. They returned to classrooms and resumed lessons, with the music of protest, perhaps first public stir in their life, still ringing at the back of their mind. 

 

But people fighting against newly relocated Bevco outlets across the state are not as lucky as the students who won their demand in just one hour. Numerous agitations are taking place in the state and people are out on the street protesting for weeks on against liquor shops.
 

Also read: Will boozers' paradise Mahe go dry with SC ban on liquor shops?

The protests against liquor outlets are spreading, causing a new headache for the Left Democratic Front government, which is already in the grip of a raging student agitation against college managements and self financing institutions. 

 

Residents are on warpath against Bevco outlets in all districts. Out of 270 shops of Bevco, 135 will have to be relocated to comply with the recent Supreme Court verdict prohibiting liquor shops along National Highways and State Highways. As many as 27   of Consumerfed liquor shops will also need shifting to new locations.