Cong MP hits out at leaders for sparring over liquor policy

Kochi, Aug 17 (PTI) Senior Congress leader K CVenugopal, today termed as "unfortunate" the public debate byparty leaders, including Ramesh Chennithala and V M Sudheeran,on the liquor policy of previous UDF government and asked themto stop "creating division" among the partymen. The issue was debated several times on various partyfora and there was no need for discussing it further on apublic platform, the MP said. He was reacting to Chennithala’s controversial remarksin an interview that the UDF government’s liquor policy didnot have the desired results in the recent assembly electionsand KPCC chief Sudheeran countering it publicly. "Washing the dirty linen over the liquor issue bysenior Congress leaders will only break the morale of theparty rank and file," Venugopal told PTI, targeting KPCC ChiefSudheeran and Chennithala, Leader of Opposition in theAssembly.     "It is unfortunate. Debating the issue of liquorpolicy on a public platform will create division in the party.Unfortunately here such efforts are being done by top partyleaders themselves. If they have differences over the issue,they should sit together, discuss and sort it out," the formerunion minister said. He said when party workers wish to launch a strongmovement against "anti-people" policies of the LDF and BJP-ledcentral governments, such "unhealthy" public debates on anissue like liquor policy would only break their morale. The previous UDF government had closed down over 700bars across the state and decided to bring in totalprohibition in phases. PTI TGB VS RCJKK