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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Refuting allegations that the proposed liquor policy was discussed during a virtual meeting convened by the tourism department on May 21 intruding into the domain of the excise department, the tourism director said on Sunday that the department did not convey any suggestion on the policy to the state government.
In a statement, tourism Director Sikha Surendran said the meeting attended by various stakeholders of the tourism industry “was not a special meeting of bar owners or related to the government’s liquor policy, as is now being made out to be”.
Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan had alleged that the provisions in the proposed liquor policy, including the ‘dry day’ and extension of bar working hours, were discussed during the meeting. He also alleged that after the meeting bar owners began collecting money to pay bribes to get their demands implemented. Satheesan also questioned the tourism department intervening in a…
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