Satheesan sees ‘mystery’ behind extension of bar timing

Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan connected Wednesday came down heavy connected the State government, alleging “mystery” down the determination to widen barroom operating hours without adjacent a treatment successful the Cabinet and accusing the ruling enactment of misusing authorities machinery for electoral gains.

Speaking to mediapersons astatine Chelakkara, helium said immoderate determination regarding the hold oregon unification of barroom timings should beryllium taken lone aft elaborate deliberations. While barroom owners had earlier demanded a azygous timing, helium alleged that taking specified a determination connected the eve of the elections would inevitably invitation suspicion. He besides claimed that adjacent the summation successful the fig of tourism centres had earlier drawn disapproval for ‘favouring the barroom lobby.’

‘Swift approval’

Mocking the gait of governance, helium remarked that those who accidental the authorities lacks velocity should look astatine however swiftly approvals are granted successful specified matters, citing the accelerated clearance fixed to a institution that applied from Delhi for the Palakkad brewery. Over the past decade, helium alleged, astir a 1000 bars person been sanctioned and retail outlets person expanded crossed the State, informing that the dispersed of liquor would person superior societal consequences successful the State. He further accused the authorities of abandoning its earlier committedness of gradual liquor regularisation and moving alternatively successful the other absorption by expanding the fig of bars.

Navakerala survey

Referring to the Navakerala survey controversy, helium said the tribunal verdict substantiates the allegations raised by the Opposition. He termed it a “shameful exercise” of carrying retired election-related activities astatine nationalist disbursal and said the contented was challenged successful tribunal connected those grounds.

He besides alleged that volunteers were being directed to guarantee the government’s instrumentality to power, and criticised the spending of crores connected publicity campaigns and hoardings contempt the State’s fiscal strain. Instructions to administer authorities pamphlets successful tribal colonies done wood officials, helium claimed, would besides beryllium legally challenged. “What a disgraceful mode of misusing authorities systems for predetermination purposes,” helium said.

Sabarimala golden theft

On the Sabarimala golden theft case, helium expressed interest that each accused, including the main suspects, whitethorn yet locomotion free, turning the probe into a farce. If the accused are released, helium asked, however would grounds beryllium secured? He alleged that contempt the Supreme Court denying bail, the Special Investigation Team had facilitated conditions that could alteration the accused to get earthy bail, raising fears that the lawsuit mightiness yet illness owed to deficiency of evidence.