Kerala: Opposition moves adjournment motion in liquor policy; V D Satheesan demands vigilance probe

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], June 10 : Kerala Legislative Assembly began on a stormy note on Monday with opposition Congress and UDF leaders protesting and raising slogans demanding an inquiry into allegations that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government accepted bribes to amend the state's liquor policy. The ruckus forced an early adjournment of the 11th session of the 15th Assembly Session.
Opposition MLA Roji M John moved an adjournment motion demanding discussion on the allegations of bribery while Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan issued a letter demanding a vigilance probe into the matter under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
A purported voice clip has surfaced in which a bar association office bearer from Idukki district is heard saying that all bar owners should pay 2.5 lakh each to make changes in the liquor policy and claimed that one-third of the amount has been collected.
The UDF has alleged that the Left government has sought Rs 20 crore from bar owners to make a policy that will be favourable for them and demanded the resignation of Excise Minister M B Rajesh.
VD Satheesan said, "Their defence was that they have not started the change of Abkari Policy. But we proved them wrong. There as a meeting conducted by tourism directors which had the topic- "Review of the Abkari policy. What is the right of tourism department to conduct a review meeting of Upkari policy? The only competent authority is the Excise department. They can only do that if they would have invited the stake holders."
"It's a bizarre thing that tourism department invited the stakeholders and bar owners to review meeting. What is the right of the tourism minister? So we demand this transaction and this criminal conspiracy will attract the provision of the Prevention of the Corruption Act 1988," added Satheesan.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has however rejected the opposition's demand in the state Assembly and said, "Opposition is trying to prove that there is something when there is nothing. Excise's Minister himself has given a complaint immediately to DGP. As part of this enquiry whatever needs to be enquired will be done."
Excise minister M B Rajesh said that the government had already filed a complaint with the state police on the video clip that has surfaced.
"We have already initiated an enquiry within half an hour of this voice clip uplink. I filed a complaint with the state police chief demanding an enquiry into claims that some elements were trying to collect money in the name of liquor policy for which preliminary discussions have not yet begun. That enquiry is going on. On basis of the findings of that inquiry the government will take action" Rajesh said.