By Our Staff Reporter,Hindu on Wednesday, Dec 05, 2001
KOZHIKODE, DEC. 4. In a major blow to the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam leadership, one of the prominent leaders of the Ezhava community and noted businessman, Mr. M.N.Unneerikutty, today resigned from the chairmanship of the Trust in protest against its decision to back the UDF Government's new liquor policy.
Announcing this at a press conference here, Mr. Unneerikutty said he had forwarded his resignation letter to the SNDP Yogam general secretary, Mr. Vellappally Natesan. ``It is shocking and unfortunate that the SNDP has turned into a profit- making centre by selling liquor,'' he added.
However, Mr. Unneerikutty said he would continue to be a member of the SNDP Yogam and organise a mass movement against the attitude of the leadership which is trying to turn the institution into a den of liquor brewers.
``The Yogam was established to propagate the ideals and teachings of social reformer Sree Narayana Guru. But now its leaders are liquor lords, asking the community to generate income by brewing and selling liquor. This is degeneration to the lowest level,'' he said.
``I am forced to react when there is none in the SNDP and the S.N. Trust to denounce this sort of anti-people policies.''
Reacting to the reported statement of Mr. Natesan that the uplift of the Ezhava community comes through selling liquor, Mr. Unneerikutty pointed out that the observation was sheer nonsense and lacks maturity. ``Only some of the liquor barons have flourished and are well-off by selling toddy. The poor are still poor, eking out a living with odd jobs. Do you claim to have acquired social status by making the innocents drink toddy?'' he asked.
He also made a scathing attack on Mr. Natesan, describing him as a person with a low cultural quotient though he was a very good organiser. ``Mr. Vellappally thinks that the Ezhava and Thiyya communities listen to whatever stupidity he says. A lot of people are against his views concerning the community,'' Mr. Unneerikutty said.
One of the biggest blunders of the UDF Government will be the new liquor policy, according to Mr. Unneerikutty.
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