Liquor policy: CPI(M) not to reverse UDF's decisions

With demands being raised in various quarters to make its stand clear on closed liquor bars in poll-bound Kerala, the CPI(M) today said it "will not reverse any of the decisions" of the Congress-led UDF government in this regard, if it comes to power.
The clarification, by CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, assumes significance as the UDF and LDF have been coming out with divergent views on the issue.
"If the LDF comes to power, it will not reverse any of the decisions already taken by the Kerala government on the liquor policy," Yechury told reporters in Delhi.
"Our policy has always been to further reduce liquor consumption in Kerala society. So our effort is to further reduce liquor consumption," he said, indicating that if voted to power, LDF will not reopen the 700-odd liquor bars, shut by UDF government in 2014 as part of its liqour policy, which envisages a total prohibition over a 10-year period in the state.

A controversy had erupted after CPI(M) politburo member, Pinarayi Vijayan stated that LDF was not for total prohibition, but for abstinence.
Joining the issue, the Catholic church in Kerala had yesterday demanded that LDF make it clear whether it will reopen closed bars if voted to power in the May 16 Assembly polls and also wondered why it was "secretive" about its liquor policy.

Reacting to Yechury's statement, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy attributed the CPI(M)'s "change of mind" to "fear of backlash" in the coming polls.
"UDF's liquor policy is very clear. There is no lack of clarity in its policy," he said.

Chandy said government had paid a "heavy price" due to the closure of bars as some of the affected bar owners were allegedly behind the latest allegations raised by solar scam accused, Saritha S Nair.
Opposition leader and CPI(M) veteran, V S Achuthanandan said availability of liquor will be reduced in phases in Kerala.