Kerala nod to breweries invite Congress scorn

Thiruvananthapuram : The Congress on Wednesday slammed the Kerala government for flouting norms in issuing licenses to three breweries in Kannur, Palakkad and Ernakulam and a distillery in Thrissur.

Addressing the media here, Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala demanded a thorough probe.

"When the state is passing through one of its worst-ever tragedies, the Pinarayi Vijayan gave the green signal for opening breweries. They even gave 10 acres of government land to one of the units," he said.

After 1999, no brewery or distillery has been sanctioned in the state.

"The policy of the Pinarayi Vijayan government is abstinence from liquor and they often claim they will do everything to bring down consumption of liquor. Now what happened," Chennithala asked.