Bar bribery allegations: Youth Congress stages protest in Kerala demanding resignation of two ministers

Tension prevailed in the area when the 200-odd Youth Congress workers managed to forcefully remove the barricades on one occasion.

Also Read: Kerala’s golden web of crime: Smugglers, airports and unholy nexus

The charges

For over a month, the Congress has been raising corruption charges against the Pinarayi Vijayan government over its liquor policy, alleging that it was planning to amend it by accepting bribes from bar owners.

They raised the issue in the state Assembly on Monday, the first day of the session, during zero hour, and demanded a discussion on the raging row.

The Assembly witnessed a heated exchange between the ruling and Opposition parties regarding the controversy.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has rejected the Opposition’s demand in the Assembly to register a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act regarding the “amendment” of the state’s liquor policy.

Members of the Opposition UDF had raised placards and a banner criticising the CPI(M)-led government over the allegations and then boycotted the house proceedings.

They later demanded that a case be registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act and called for the resignation of Tourism Minister PA Muhammed Riyas and Excise Minister MB Rajesh in connection with the controversy.

(Disclaimer: The headline, subheads, and intro of this report along with the photos may have been reworked by South First. The rest of the content is from a syndicated feed, and has been edited for style.)