Cong., BJP to intensify agitation against Elappully liquor plant

The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are set to intensify their agitation against the proposed liquor plant at Mannukkad in Elappully panchayat in the district. Congress and BJP workers on Sunday planted their flags at the proposed site in protest.

Inaugurating the Congress protest, V.K. Sreekandan, MP, said they would not permit a liquor plant in a place reeling under water scarcity. “We will not allow the company personnel to step in here,” said the MP. Congress zonal president D. Rameshan presided over the function.

Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan questioned the integrity of Excise Minister M.B. Rajesh over the brewery controversy. “At first the Minister spoke like a propaganda manager of the company in question,” said Mr. Satheesan, challenging Mr. Rajesh’s statement that only one company had applied for the liquor plant.

Accusing the government of entering into a clandestine deal, Mr. Satheesan asked whether any distillery functioning in the State had been informed about the government’s decision to manufacture liquor. “It is strange that no other company in the country is aware of the government’s decision to manufacture liquor,” he said.

“In Section 24 of the liquor policy, the government only states that extra neutral alcohol will be produced. But permissions are now given for an ethanol plant, a multi-feed distillation unit, an Indian-made foreign liquor bottling unit, a brewery, a malt spirit plant, a brandy plant, and a winery plant exclusively to to this single company,” he said.

Mr. Satheesan alleged that the company had purchased land in Elapully supposedly to start a college, but the deal’s secrecy raised suspicion. He pointed out that water scarcity in Elapully was well-known, particularly after the Coca-Cola plant at Plachimada was shut down following protests a few years ago.

“The secrecy and lack of transparency surrounding this deal has raised eyebrows, with the media and the Opposition left in the dark,” he said.

BJP raises concerns

Former Union Minister V. Muraleedharan on Sunday raised concerns about the approval granted to Oasis Commercial to start the brewery. He said the company’s involvement in the Delhi liquor policy corruption case threw light on a suspected shady deal.

He asked if the company was coming to Kerala because of a shady alliance between the Delhi and Kerala Chief Ministers. “The company was chosen even without inviting a tender. Besides, the State government decision to start a brewery was not communicated to the local panchayat. By allowing a brewery to operate in a water-scarce area, the government is challenging the agricultural sector,” said Mr. Muraleedharan.