Bishops, activists urge Governor not to dilute Kerala’s liquor policy

Archbishop (Latin Rite) Soosa Pakiam M. briefed reporters after leading a delegation to Raj Bhavan here on Friday. He termed the government’s decision to issue an ordinance that takes away the power of local government institutions to issue no objection certificates (NOCs) for setting up retail liquor outlets ‘betrayal of people.’ The delegation, he said, sought permission to meet the Governor to urge him not to sign the ordinance.

However, they had learnt shortly before their arrival at Raj Bhavan that the Governor had already signed it. They understood the Governor’s limitations in such matters, he added.

Liquor lobby

He said there was a marked fall in liquor consumption in the State following the closure of liquor outlets on highways as directed by the Supreme Court. But the government had now chosen to ally with the liquor lobby and facilitate reopening of the outlets. This amounted to encouraging the liquor lobby to carry on their trade freely. A strong agitation would be launched against the government stand. Prohibition activists would organise a joint fast in front of the Assembly on June 8, the Archbishop said.

Poet and activist Sugathakumari, who was also part of the delegation that also comprised Bishop Remigiose Inchananiyil, Swami Gururathnam Jnanathapaswi, and ADIC director Johnson J. Edayaranmula, said the prohibitionists would continue their efforts to get the government to impose stern curbs on liquor consumption. “We have been campaigning for years against the liquor menace. We will continue our efforts. We will meet both the government side and the Opposition to apprise them of the seriousness of the issue,” she said.

Archbishop Susai Pakiam and other Church leaders called on the Chief Minister and urged him not to go back on the declared position of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) on the issue.