Kochi: The Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) Anti-Drug Commission has strongly criticized the state government, holding it partly responsible for the alarming rise in alcohol- and drug-fueled violence, particularly during festive seasons. Commission Chairman Bishop Yuhanon Mar Theodosius said that while authorities proudly announce record-breaking liquor sales after every major festival, they remain silent on the trail of destruction left behind.
“The government celebrates the crores earned from liquor sales, but conveniently ignores the surge in violence, road accidents, and murders that accompany such consumption,” Bishop Mar Theodosius remarked in an Onam message. He warned that the normalization of alcoholism and the easy spread of narcotics reveal a deeper social illness afflicting the state.
Highlighting the growing menace of drug mafias, he cited the shocking incident in Karunagappally where ten homes were destroyed due to narcotics-linked violence. “Such events point not only to the influence of drug networks but also to the failure of intelligence and law enforcement,” he stressed.
The bishop further accused excise officials and administrators of exploiting human vulnerability for profit. “By turning addiction into a source of revenue, the state itself becomes complicit in this destructive cycle,” he said.
Calling for urgent corrective measures, the KCBC Anti-Drug Commission reiterated that both government authorities and civil society must act decisively to protect families and communities from the twin threats of alcoholism and drugs that are corroding Kerala’s social fabric.