Anti-liquor activists call off fast

By Our Staff Reporter

KOZHIKODE, NOV. 30. The Madhya Virudha Janakeeya Munnani called off its 100-day-old indefinite hunger strike today following assurances from the KPCC president, Mr. K. Muraleedharan, MP, and the District Collector, Mr. Biswanath Sinha, that the demands of the organisation would be met with immediate effect.

As per the agreement reached, the retail liquor shop at Narikunni would be shut down and the shops at Panthirankavu and Atholi would be shifted from the existing location to another suitable place.

All these liquor shops now functioning in the district were causing disturbances to the public, according to the activists.

The Kerala Madhya Nirodhna Samithy working president, Mr. Eyyacherry Kunhikrishnan, ended his fast by drinking a glass of lemon juice offered by Mr. Muraleedharan at a make shift shed near the Mananchira Square here this morning. Several persons including Mr. A. Sujanapal and Mr. T.P.M. Zahir, MLAs, were also present on the occasion.

Mr. Kunhikrishnan, who was admitted to the Medical College Hospital, came to the shed to end his hunger strike. He was admitted to the hospital on Saturday after his health deteriorated due a week-long hunger strike.

The Madhya Virudha Janakeeya Munnani, an umbrella organisation of several anti-liquor groups, had started the agitation more than three months ago. In the beginning, the agitation was limited to a relay hunger strike but the activists decided to stage an indefinite hunger strike from November 6.

They had also held a `shayanapradashikana' in the SMS Street here on November 2 as part of the agitation.

The leaders of various prohibition councils including Prof. O.J. Chinnamma, the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) Thamarassery Diocese director, Fr. Chandy Kurushummootil, and the Madhya Virudha Janakeeya Munnanai convener, Mr. Hameed Vanimel, wanted the three new retail liquor shops at Narikuuni, Panthirankavu and Atholi to be shut down and the shop at Kunnamangalam to be shifted. They had also demanded that all ``fabricated cases'' filed against the activists in connection with the anti-liquor agitation be dropped.

There was overwhelming support to the agitation from all quarters. People from all walks of life had expressed solidarity with the activists. Voluntary agencies, students organisations and others participated in the strike. Even the former Commissioner of Police, Mr. Vijay Sanker Sakhare, had found some time to spend with the protesters two weeks back.

The activists accused the UDF Government of going back on its poll promise of introducing complete prohibition in a phased manner in the State.

On the contrary, they said, the State Government had opened 55 new liquor outlets and planned to commission more in the name of increasing the revenue of the State.

The activists alleged that the State Government had ignored the two provisions (232 and 447) of the Panchayati Raj/Nagarapalika Act. It was also apathetic about starting public awareness campaigns on the evils of alcoholism, they said.

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Section  : Southern States
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