Thiruvananthapuram, Senior CPI leader P Rajeev on Tuesday alleged that Keralam Chief Minister V D Satheesan and sponsors were taking key government decisions without the knowledge of ministers and officials.
Referring to the recent grant of bar licences to some hotels in the state allegedly without the knowledge of Excise Minister M Liju or senior officials in his department, Rajeev asked, “Who is ruling Keralam?”
Alleging that certain loopholes in the rules introduced by the previous government had facilitated the process, he said, “It will be investigated why hasty decisions were taken and why even the Excise Commissioner was not informed about the grant of licences. “Now, licences are being given without the knowledge of the minister. That is the surprising part,” he claimed. Everything will be investigated, and all loopholes will be closed.”
Referring to the CM’s directive to cancel the order sanctioning repair works worth over ₹ 1 crore at his official residence, Cliff House, Govindan alleged that the government first approved such expenditure and withdrew the order only after the issue came under scrutiny.
Govindan said that under the previous LDF government, bar licences for hotels rated above three stars were issued only after a thorough assessment of the establishments. Liju had on Monday said that the government would investigate whether officials had shown any “unwanted hastiness” in granting liquor licences to bars.
CPI state secretary M V Govindan also criticised the grant of bar licences, saying that approvals were being issued without the knowledge of the minister.
