Water cannon used as Youth Congress protest against Palakkad distillery licence nod

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Police used water cannons to disperse a group of Youth Congress workers who were marching towards the Kerala Assembly to protest the state cabinet's decision to grant a licence for a brewery and distillery in Kanjikode in Palakkad district.


The protest, which intensified as the crowd grew near the assembly, prompted police to take action, deploying water cannons to control the situation.

The Youth Congress workers were demonstrating against the Left government’s decision to permit a private company to establish a brewery unit in the northern district of Kerala.

The Congress party had raised concerns about the approval granted to Oasis, alleging corruption behind the decision.

Meanwhile, Elappully panchayat, the local governing body where the brewery is set to be located, also voiced strong opposition, arguing that the project could exacerbate the region's ongoing water shortage.

The panchayat expressed fears that setting up the brewery would deplete the area's already scarce water resources.

In response, state excise minister M B Rajesh accused opposition parties of using the issue for political gain, claiming their protest was politically motivated and aimed at undermining the Left government’s decision.

(With agency inputs)