UDF Govt's Liquor Tax Cut Aimed at Benefiting Karnataka-Based Bacardi: Pinarayi Vijayan

Thiruvananthapuram: Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan told the Assembly that the UDF government's decision to grant a tax concession on liquor in its first budget was intended to benefit a private liquor company. He alleged that the tax cut was part of a broader policy aimed at flooding Keralam with liquor, and that it was not meant to benefit ordinary people but rather a major private liquor company headquartered in Karnataka.

The opposition leader told the House that the UDF government's tax relief decision was designed to generate profits for the Karnataka-based liquor company Bacardi. He said the company, Bacardi India Private Limited, had submitted an application to the Taxes Department back in 2023, but the government in power at the time had not taken any decision on it. However, he alleged, just seven officials cleared the file with remarkable speed on May 21, soon after the new government assumed office — a move he described to the House as clear-cut corruption.

He pointed out that when the new budget's schedule was presented, it did not include a Finance Bill, indicating that no fresh tax proposals had been under consideration while the budget was being prepared. The proposal, he said, was inserted into the budget later, purely to benefit the private liquor company. "This move will only serve to push our youth towards substance abuse. If implemented, liquor will become as freely available in our state as a soft drink. This will have serious consequences for our state, and it cannot be allowed," Vijayan said.

The Opposition staged a walkout from the Assembly after the Speaker denied permission for an adjournment motion on the liquor tax concession.