Liquor Mafia: TDP Protests On 26 Dec

The Telugu Desam Party will hold protests at District Collectorates across the state on 26 December, against the "fleecing of poor consumers with exorbitant prices by the liquor mafia and syndicates" in AP.

Addressing a press conference at NTR Trust Bhavan in Hyderabad on Tuesday, TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu questioned the silence of Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on the exposure of the corrupt activities of the liquor syndicate during the raids conducted by the Anti Corruption Bureau across AP.

He demanded that the state government convene an all-party meeting to discuss the liquor scam.

Naidu said that he would meet the CM on Thursday, and Governor E S L Narasimhan on 24 December, to explain the financial damage to the state due to the liquor syndicates.

He demanded that every liquor shop put up an MRP board for the consumer's benefit.

The government must close belt-shops across the state and also book criminal charges against all those involved in the liquor syndicates, he demanded.

Naidu alleged that the government has thrown all social responsibilities to the wind, and that it is "playing games with the lives of people".

He also slammed Transport Minister Botsa Satyanarayana for openly justifying and defending the continuance of liquor syndicates in the state.

Instead of prohibiting liquor, Naidu said, the government itself has been promoting liquor consumption for mobilizing funds.

The TDP chief demanded that the government disclose the names of all the ministers and MLAs who were found involved in the liquor mafia.

"It is high time for the government to announce a new permit system for liquor shops, to put an end to the nexus amongst the liquor syndicate and others," he stated.

Meanwhile, Telugu Desam Mahila unit leaders and workers staged a dharna in front of the Nampally Excise Commissioner's Office, demanding the dismissal of ministers who patronise liquor syndicates. (INN)