Kottayam/New Delhi, February 19 Kerala Congress (M) chairman Jose K Mani said on Thursday that the change in bar timings in the state was not new, but merely a "streamlining" of the existing liquor policy, while state BJP chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar termed it the "sole contribution of 10 years of Left rule."
Chandrasekhar, speaking to reporters in Delhi, claimed that the only contribution of the Left government over the past decade was extending bar hours.
"Do they want bars to run for 24 hours? They are trying to raise money by any means to support the state’s declining economy," he alleged.
The BJP leader said he was saddened by a situation in which "the government is trying to earn money through bars."
He further alleged that the government, which came to power 10 years ago promising improvement, spent Rs 22 lakh crore with little to show for it.
"This government is a 100 per cent failure. If it has any shame, it should resign," he alleged.
Earlier in the day, speaking to reporters in Kottayam, Mani said the streamlining was carried out following complaints of discrimination between bars in tourist destinations and those in other areas.
Bars in tourist destinations were allowed to operate from 10 am to midnight, while those elsewhere functioned from 11 am to 11 pm.
"So, this is only a streamlining exercise," said Mani, whose party is a constituent of the ruling LDF.
State Excise Minister M B Rajesh had also taken a similar stand a day earlier in defence of the revised timings.
Rajesh said the extended hours were already in force in tourist areas and had now been made applicable across the state to address complaints of discrimination.
Mani also welcomed the government’s decision, announced a day earlier, to regularise nearly 20,000 teachers working in aided schools, subject to the outcome of pending cases before the Supreme Court of India.
Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty on Wednesday said the move was aimed at resolving long-pending legal issues related to the implementation of reservation for differently abled persons and the approval of teacher appointments in aided schools.
Mani said the regularisation process would be carried out immediately.
The Left government’s decision assumes political significance in poll-bound Kerala, as the issue recently triggered protests by various aided school managements, including Christian organisations, which accused the government of blocking general category appointments under the pretext of implementing court directives.
