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A purported voice note from a Kerala hotel owners’ association office bearer, sent to a bar owners’ WhatsApp group, has landed the CPI(M)-led state government in a soup.
“Dry day (on the first day of every month) will be lifted… If we want to get things done, we need to do what must be done. Only one-third of the money from across the state has come in so far. Those willing to give Rs 2.5 lakh each should inform this group. Without giving (money), nobody will help us. If somebody thinks that things will get done without giving (money), they are free to opt for that way,” Animon, vice-president of the Kerala Hotels Association, says in the purported voice note, ostensibly about a new liquor policy in the offing in Kerala after the Lok Sabha elections.
The controversy comes at a time when the government is considering watering down its liquor policy, facilitating more sale of Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) in the state.
On Friday, after the audio clip found its way to the media, Animon did not deny that he sent the message. However, the Kerala Hotels Association president, V Sunil Kumar, claimed the “fund mobilisation was meant for constructing an office for the association in Thiruvananthapuram”.
“A section of the association members was against the decision. The association had suspended Animon on Thursday after he tried to split the organisation,” Sunil Kumar claimed.
The association had a meeting on Thursday, and the agenda did not mention anything about the construction of an office building, but did mention various prospective features of the new liquor policy, including the lifting the dry day – a long standing demand of bar owners in Kerala.
Kerala Excise Minister M B Rajesh said the government has taken serious note of the audio message. “Such things will not be allowed. The government is forming a liquor policy. In such a scenario, certain persons trying to mobilise funds to get favours has to be seen seriously. There will be strong action against such persons,” he said.
The Congress demanded the minister’s resignation. “The minister should take responsibility for this scam and quit. During the Congress government in 2014, CPI(M) had alleged a bribery of Rs 1 crore against then finance minister K M Mani. Now, the CPI(M) government is facing an allegation of Rs 20 crore. The bar owners will not go for fund collection without getting a signal from the government,” Opposition leader V D Satheesan said.
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