Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Catholic bishops plan agitation

Special Correspondent

KCBC's Madya Virudha Samithi stages protest against new liquor policy

IN STIR MODE: Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios addressing a dharna of the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council in front of the Secretariat on Tuesday in protest against the liquor policy of the State Government. — Photo: S. Mahinsha

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Madya Virudha Samithi of the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) proposes to launch a strong but peaceful agitation against the Government's liquor policy.

The Archbishop of Thiruvananthapuram Susaipakiam who announced this while inaugurating a one-day fast organised by the Samithi before the Secretariat on Tuesday to focus attention on the issue said that the closed toddy shops would not be allowed to be reopened. He stated that he was not taking seriously the Excise Minister's statement that the agitation against the liquor policy would not work.

To take out marches

Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios, who presided over the function, said that the liquor policy was capable of attracting 500 persons towards liquor when five were weaned away from it. He stated that the Samithi would take out marches to the Collectorate against the policy on March 31.

Fr. Paul Karachira, Prasad Kuruvilla, Charlie Paul, F.M .Lasser and Johnson Nanthirackal were among those who spoke.

The Samithi placed six demands before the Government. They included abandoning the move to reopen 1,610 toddy shops, which had been closed. It pointed out that if they were reopened, illicit toddy and arrack would flow through them. It would lead to the violation of the promise to check the smuggling in of spirit and illicit distillation.

The Samithi demanded the restoration of the relevant clauses of the Nagar Palika and Panchayati Raj laws under which the Local Self Government Institutions would have the authority to decide whether liquor shops should function or not.

It also advocated against the sanctioning of new IMFL shops and beer parlours and the withdrawal of the arrack ban on any account. Liquor shops should not be opened to protect the workers. The Government should resort to other methods for that. The Samithi also demanded the re-imposition of prohibition in a phased manner in the State.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Opposition members walk out alleging exploitation of Adivasis
Power failure hits water supply
`Environmental education not just a subject'
Students, teachers take to aerobics at MTT College
Catholic bishops plan agitation
`Graft in hiring taxis for VVIPs'
Move to overhaul admission system
CAG pulls up Forest Department and KWA
Veterinary university to be set up
`Revise project guidelines'
Suggestions sought for amendment to scheme
Vijay wows his fans in the city
Project to improve teaching facilities in medical colleges drawn up
No eviction of CHR farmers: Minister
More lessons to learn
Adapting to change
RGCB: Centre's response awaited
Against price rise
Trains to halt at Chirayinkeezh
Extortion: one arrested
Recitation event
Around the City
In Thiruvananthapuram Today

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu