Govt. trying to help abkari lobby: CPI

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JULY 1. The CPI has expressed its concern over the UDF Government's efforts to ``torpedo'' the healthy abkari policy introduced by the previous Government.

In a statement issued here today, the CPI State executive condemned the moves being made by the Antony government to dissolve the workers' cooperative societies which were running the toddy shops following the recent change in the abkari policy.

The party alleged that the Government's intention was to hand over the toddy shops to the abkari contractors once again. ``One reason for the urge to dissolve the workers' societies is political dislike. The other is the UDF's desire to indulge abkari contractors,'' the CPI said.

``Even children know that the boundless greed of some of these contractors was the real cause of the hooch tragedies witnessed here. We should not allow such a dangerous situation to return in the State,'' the party said. Right from the day the Antony government came to power, its number one priority was to free the toddy shops from the control of the workers' societies. This in itself was proof enough of the abkari lobby's hold over this Government.

``The help this lobby had given the UDF during the election time is known to all. The spirit lobby of Karnataka too had lent its help to the Congress here,'' the CPI alleged.

The Governor's address to the State Assembly did not mention anything about the new Government's abkari policy. Still, there were sufficient indications about what the Antony Government was contemplating to do in the sector. Even some of the constituents of the UDF were against the retrograde measures being planned by the Government, the CPI said.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Venduruthy rail bridge, foundation needs
           replacement
Next     : CPI(M) adopts revised poll report