'Voice clip program' has been going on for quite some time now, will take strong action, says MB Rajesh

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Excise Minister MB Rajesh said that the state government is looking at the voice clip released by media in connection with the liquor policy very seriously.

"The government has not begun the discussion on the liquor policy. Even the preliminary discussions have not taken place. In such a situation, some people are trying to collect money saying that decisions will be made in their favour regarding the liquor policy. The government is looking at this matter very seriously. We will take strong action against such people," the minister said.

"Such actions will not be tolerated. It is the government that formulates the liquor policy. The discussions regarding the liquor policy have not started yet. The media started continuously reporting news in this regard a month ahead of discussions on liquor policy. Strong action will be taken if anyone attempts to collect money in the wake of such news reports," the minister said.

"The "voice clip program" has been going on for quite some time now. The government knows how to deal with wrong trends. It has not started the discussions as the moral code of conduct is in place. I do not know the source of the news that comes up in the media regarding the liquor policy. The matter of giving liquor licenses for IT Parks was there in the previous liquor policy. Some people might have resorted to collection of money based on wrong news reports," Rajesh added.

Meanwhile, KPCC president K Sudhakaran demanded the resignation of Excise Minister MB Rajesh. Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said that the government was playing to the tunes of the bar owners.