News and Views

The government will announce its new abkari policy in February after discussions in the Left Democratic Front, Excise Minister T. P. Ramakrishnan told the Assembly on Monday.

The policy would take into account the setbacks suffered by the tourism industry as a result of the present policy, the Minister said while replying to the debate on the demands for grants for Excise, Labour, Labour Welfare and Welfare of Non-residents.

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarai Vijayan told the Assembly on Monday that the crime branch would enquire into the complaint of Director of Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau Jacob Thomas that his phone and email had been intercepted.

Responding to notice for an adjournment motion given by Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan (Congress), the Chief Minister said that Director General of Police was the appropriate authority to conduct the enquiry whether interception was done by police or those outside the force.  Mr. Thomas’ compliant was based on a press report.

Thiruvananthapuram: Director General of Police Loknath Behera may take a decision on the complaint of Director of Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau Jacob Thomas that his email account and phone had been tapped.

Thiruvananthapuram: The LDF has won in 10 of the 14 wards of local bodies to which by-elections were held on Friday. The UDF won three seats and the BJP one, an official release from State Election Commission said on Saturday.

Thiruvananthapuram: Finance Minister T. M. Thomas Isaac told the Assembly on Friday that a high level task force had been formed to deal with ‘Ezuthu Lottery’, a form of betting based on last digits of Kerala State lottery results.