UDF to launch agitation against new liquor policy

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 06 (UNI) The Congress-led Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala today decided to launch an intensive agitation against the new liquor policy of the State Government that is in contradiction to the earlier stand of introducting total prohibition in a phased manner.

Briefing newspersons here after a meeting of the UDF high-power committee, front convener P P Thankachan said the Marxist-led Left Democratic Front Government was trying to promote liquor sale in the state by deciding to sanction 1,600 new toddy shops.

The present production of toddy was not even sufficient to cater to the demand of existing shops. The sanctioning of new toddy shops would result in the sale of illicit liquor, he said, adding the previous UDF Government had approved a policy to implement total prohibition in a phased manner in the State.

Alleging that the LDF Government introduced a new Ordinance to sabotage the autonomy of higher education institutions in the State, he said the UDF would not nominate its MLAs to the Academic Councils. The Government should come up with a new legislation to protect the autonamy of such institutions, he added.

In the matter of the new Ordinance relating to Devaswom, he said the UDF was of the view that the present provisions had hurt the sentiments of believers. ''We are not against handing over the powers for appointments in the Devaswom to the Public Services Commission. But the tradition is that only Hindus are appointed in temples,'' he said.

Mr Thankachan said the Government should come out with some interim arrangement in the wake of the Supreme Court judgement relating to the creamy layer issue on reservation for backward communities. Till a new commission comes out with its recommendations as suggested by the Apex Court, the Government should consider some arrangements so that there would not be any delay in recruitments, he added.

UNI