After a brief turbulent period, the Kerala government is all set to
modify the so called liquor policy, for which it faces lot of resistance from
various corners including from the Tourism sector.
A high-level meeting of the ruling coalition arrived
at the game-changing decision by prevailing over the strong dissent from the state
Congress President.
Significantly, this signal changes to the policy
that had led hundreds of bars to shut down and saw aggrieved owners approach
the courts for intervention. Kerala High Court had on more than one occasion
rapped the government for its flip-flops on the policy.
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has won back for
the State Cabinet the right to decide the future of the contentious liquor
policy. Closing down of the bars in batches and declaration of a dry day on
Sundays proved the last straw for the tourism sector, another major revenue
earner for the state.
The government also faced strong protests from lakhs
of bar employees/workers, at least 10 of which committed suicide after losing
their livelihood.
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