IUML unhappy with new liquor policy: Majeed

MALAPPURAM: Adding to the murmurs against the recently announced liquor policy of the UDF government, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has publicly expressed its discontent over the new liquor policy. Talking to mediapersons here on Saturday, IUML general secretary K P A Majeed said that the Muslim League is unsatisfied with the new liquor policy of the government. According to him, the new liquor policy does not vest the power to issue licences to liquor shops with the panchayats.“The IUML has always taken the stand that the power to issue licences to liquor shops should be given to panchayats, but the new liquor policy has ignored this demand,” he said. According to him, the new liquor policy was prepared in a rush. The IUML had earlier demanded the government to reinstate the amended provisions in the Panchayati Raj Act to make the panchayats the licence issuing authority for liquor shops. P K Kunhalikkutty himself has put forward the demand of the party to the UDF earlier.However, when the policy was formulated, it was not considered.He also said that the issue will be raised in the UDF again and that the UDF has agreed to consider the issue in the second phase.