No reason to reopen 418 closed bars: Congress

Thiruvananthapuram: Refuting media reports, state Congress president V.M. Sudheeran on Wednesday said there is no reason for reopening any of the 418 closed bars.

There are 731 bars in the state and since the beginning of this fiscal, 418 of them have not been given permission to reopen. A CAG report has said the 418 bars have very poor infrastructure.

"Whatever reports have come out in the media have no basis and there is no reason for any of the 418 closed down bars to be reopened. In fact, of the remaining bars that are presently open, some of them ought to be closed down," Sudheeran, a known anti-liquor activist, told reporters here.

Sudheeran's tough stand after taking over as state party chief in February this year has antagonised many of his party leaders like Excise Minister K.Babu, a close aide of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

With the Congress in the midst of a organisational revamp, Sudheeran has asked his party members to see that a tippler should not be elected to any party post at any level.

In Kerala, liquor is sold in bars and 383 state-owned retail shops. The Kerala State Beverages Corporation is the sole wholesaler.