No financial loss due to liquor policy, says K. Babu

Thiruvananthapuram: Excise Minister K. Babu has said in the Assembly that the state exchequer has not suffered any financial loss due to the new liquor policy.

“The liquor consumption has come down following the new liquor policy. But, the liquor policy has not caused any financial loss to the the state exchequer as the government steeply increased taxes on liquor,” Babu said.

The Minister was replying to an adjournment motion moved by the LDF Opposition raising the bar issue.

Significantly, K.M Mani was absent today from the ongoing Assembly session.

Seizing on the matter of the bar bribe charges against Finance Minister K.M Mani, the Opposition legislatures also displayed banners and placards demanding the resignation of the Minister.

The session assumes significance as it comes after the Congress led UDF government announced its new liquor policy.

As an offshoot of the policy and causing embarrassment to the government, bar owner and Working President of Kerala Bar Hotel Owners Association Biju Ramesh had alleged that Mani had taken money for favourable decision.