Kerala govt cancels licences of breweries, distillery on corruption charges

An hour after the Congress-led Opposition on Monday announced a state-wide protest seeking Kerala Excise Minister TP Ramakrishnan's resignation over the sanctions given to liquor businesses, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the licenses have been cancelled.   

"While we are seriously involved in the rebuilding of our state, the Opposition has been crying foul over a non-issue," Vijayan told the media after being targeted by Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala for the past two weeks. 

The Congress leader has been criticising the state government's sanctioning of three breweries in Kannur, Palakkad and Ernakulam and a distillery in Thrissur -- the first ever since 1999. 

Chennithala said no rules were followed while issuing the licences to four companies.

However, Vijayan said: "We gave the sanction only after completing all procedures. The Opposition is raising a needless controversy. So, it has been decided to cancel the licenses given."

He also made it clear that "it does not mean, no licenses will be issued in future. We will go ahead with the policy".