Meeting held as per instructions of chief secretary, not Minister Riyas: Tourism Dept

Thiruvananthapuram: The Tourism Department clarified that they had convened a meeting over liquor policy without the knowledge of the Tourism Minister, Muhammad Riyas. The department explained that the purpose of the meeting was to collect feedback on the liquor policy within the tourism industry and present a report to the chief secretary.

Earlier today, VD Satheesan attacked the state government over an online meeting convened by the tourism department to discuss excise policy renewal. He alleged that the meeting included discussions on topics such as dry days, and bar owners initiated fund collection immediately afterward.

However, the Tourism Department has responded that meetings are held every year in all departments to discuss the liquor policy of the state government. It argued that there was nothing unusual about it.

According to reports, the chief secretary called for a meeting with all departmental secretaries to gather opinions regarding the liquor policy. Following the chief secretary's instructions, departmental secretaries convened a Zoom meeting, which was also attended by bar owners. The tourism department clarified that there was no intervention from the minister.

During a press conference, Satheesan questioned why the tourism minister intervened so hastily in the liquor policy, which is the domain of the excise department.

According to Satheesan, bar owners began collecting and handing over money following the meeting on May 21. He claimed that the leader of the bar owners explicitly stated that there would be no changes to the liquor policy unless payments were made. Representatives of the bar owners were also present at the meeting, he added.