Congress warns of agitation in Kerala if liquor policy scrapped

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 19 (IANS) Congress's women leaders on Friday warned the Kerala government, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, that it will face an all-women agitation if free flow of liquor was allowed in the state, a senior woman Congress leader said.

Kerala Mahila Congress President Bindhu Krishna, said it was a shame on the part of Excise Minister T.P. Ramakrishnan to say that it was not good to see people standing in long queues to purchase liquor.

"It's a shame he made such a statement, when he failed to see the big queues in front of ration shops, hospitals and treasuries. The CPI-M -led government is functioning as agents of the liquor lobby and now they speak of liquor super markets and selling liquor online," said Krishna.

"We will lead a women's brigade and take to the streets if the CPI-M government tries to tweak the present liquor policy which will see free flow of liquor," added Krishna.

For the past week, a few state ministers have dropped enough hints that the liquor policy of the previous Oommen Chandy government has caused a serious dent on the money-earner tourism industry of the state.