A meeting of the committee coordinating the Government and the ruling Congress in Kerala on Wednesday failed to take a decision on issuing licences to 418 bars in the State without the required quality standards as Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and State Congress president refused to compromise on their respective positions on the issue.
After the meeting, Sudheeran told mediapersons that a decision on the issue would be taken later. Asked whether there were any disputes in the committee, he said, “There was no difference of opinion. As you know, it is a very serious issue and we have to take into consideration all aspects of it. That is why a decision is being delayed.”
However, sources in the Congress said that there were two divergent views within the party not just on the issue of the renewal of licences of the substandard bars but on the entire liquor policy the State Government should adopt. “This is not the first time this difference is coming out. Anyway, a decision will be taken soon,” said a senior Congress leader.
The Government had not renewed the licences of 418 bars with substandard facilities for operating between April 1 and March 31 and this has given rise to allegations of corruption. On Wednesday, Opposition leader VS Achuthanandan demanded a judicial inquiry into the issue saying that there were even efforts to influence the Judiciary in connection with the issue. The first session of the four-hour-long meeting of the Government-Congress coordinating committee on Wednesday saw Sudheeran and Chandy sticking to their respective positions.