Vardhan lauds Chandy over liquor ban

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday lauded Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on his government’s “radical” decision to implement phased prohibition of liquor in the state.

He was speaking after declaring the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) here as a State Cancer Institute. “I don’t know how much criticism the government is facing here over the decision. Whenever there is a radical change, there will be vested interests who will oppose it,” the minister said in the presence of Chandy.

He said saving people from alcohol and tobacco use that causes “irreparable” damage to individuals and families was the “foremost duty” of all health professionals. Later, speaking with reporters after the event, he refused to comment on the alleged discrepancies in the state’s new liquor policy that allows shutdown of bar hotels while letting bars in the five-star category to continue functioning.

The state government has maintained that issuance of licences to five-star bars comes under the Union government’s purview.

“For me, the chief minister has taken a good step that will help the society at large,” he said. The minister said he would also pursue measures to ensure stronger anti-tobacco laws. The Union minister had also tweeted, a day after the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government announced its new liquor policy, “fully endorsing” the bar shutdown.