CPI(M) and Congress skirmish over 'hasty issuance' of liquor licences in Keralam

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and Excise Minister M. Liju blame the LDF government for the 'liberal granting' of bar licences by ceding the authority to lower-level excise officials, possibly to evade political responsibility; CPI(M) State Secretariat member and former Excise Minister M.B. Rajesh accuses Satheesan and Liju of 'lying' to save face, and the LDF had granted liquor licences only with the Minister’s sanction