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In a significant move against the Communist-led government's
liberalised liquor policy, the bishops representing three Christian
denominations in Kerala have issued a sort of 'fatwa' to the
Christians against abetting liquor trade.
A joint pastoral letter read out in all the churches in the state
on Sunday has urged the Christians not to facilitate liquor trade
by renting their premises or letting out coconut palms and
palmyrahs for toddy tapping.
The letter signed by 28 bishops has also called for the removal of
those Christians who consume or promote liquor from responsible
positions in the churches. The bishops pointed out that that
consumption and promotion of liquor was against the spirit of
Christianity and that the Christians are committed to fight social
evils.
"Unfortunately a lot of Christians in the state not only use liquor
but also engage themselves in liquor trade". The bishops reminded
that this was against the church stand for total prohibition in the
state. The bishops have asked all the parish priests to set up
prohibition cells in their respective parishes and conduct
programmes for making people aware against the evils of the liquor.
The pastoral letter said that addiction to liquor should not be
treated as a crime. It said that addiction was a disease and its
victims should be treated with compassion. The bishops came out
strongly against the communist government's liquor policy saying
that the rulers were trying to clandestinely flood the state with
liquor. The bishops urged the faithfuls to be against attempts for
implementing the liberalised liquor policy through backdoor.
Father Thomas Valliyanipuram director of the Kerala Lax Catholic
Youth Movement which spearheads the agitation against the liquor
policy said that the communist-led front was hand in glove with the
liquor barrons. He told the Observer of Business and Politics that
the government was bound to promote a free liquor policy as the
ruling front had already received funds from the liquor barons.
The priest who was on a hunger strike before the state secretariat
said that the church will not be satisfied by anything short of
total prohibition. He said that the church would come out with
further agitations to achieve this.
The church move for total prohibition assumes significance in view
of the climb-down the communist-led government has made in the
liquor front. The government withdrew its order to open 1000 new
liquor outlets within 24 hours of its issuance following severe
criticism from the public.
It made yet another volte face by modifying its order to allow new
outlets for tourism promotion in a bid to end the indefinite hunger
strike by the Kerala Catholic Youth Movement.
The government is apparently jittery over the communal
consolidation taking place in the state against the liquor. It may
be recalled that organisations of both the powerful Christian and
Muslim communities are on the street.
Although the Hindus have not resorted to direct action, the
Bharatiya Janata Party is supporting the two minority communities
in the battle against the liquor.
The ruling front circles fear that the present anti liquor stir
might take an explosive turn if the opposition Congress-led front
joins the bandwagon.
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