KPCC President reiterates position on bar licence

Issues connected with reopening of 418 closed bars in the state became more complex with Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee President V M Sudheeran saying it is the party's view that there was no need to reopen the sub-standard closed bars.
"Opinion that the closed bars need not be reopened is not my view, it is the stand of the party," Sudheeran told reporters here on the sidelines of a function, in which he handed over to an NGO two cash awards which he got for the anti-liquor campaign.
Speaking at the function, Sudheeran claimed there was a decrease in the number of road accidents and other criminal activities since the bars were closed down.

Stressing the importance of anti-liquor campaign, he said bar licence issue should not viewed as a 'political issue.' "It is a matter connected to the welfare of the society as a whole."
The new liquor policy with regard to the closed bars has been worrying the Congress-led UDF government since they remained closed from April last following differences on the issue in the Congress and also among UDF partners.
Though Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Sudheeran held discussion on renewal of licences of the bars, they have failed to reach an amicable decision so far.

The bars were closed due to non-renewal of licences for lack of mandatory standards. While Chandy stood for giving a fixed time for improving facilities at these bars, Sudheeran has been opposed to that option.

Leaders of the IUML, partner in the UDF, have also come out in the open against renewing licence to the closed bars. Though different options to settle the issue were discussed in the Congress, a common meeting point could not be arrived at.
Meanwhile, the bar licence issue assumed the proportion of factionalism in the Congress with loyalists of the Chief Minister and Sudheeran coming out in support of the stand taken by their leaders.
The ruling UDF liaison committee, slated to meet here on August 26, is likely to discuss the issue.