Mahila Congress warns of agitation if liquor policy scrapped

Thiruvananthapuram: Congress's women leaders on Friday warned the 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.