PCC President Botsa Satyanarayana On Thursday wrote a letter to Chief Minister K Kiran Kumar Reddy, seeking a CBI probe into the allegations being levelled against the former in the liquor scam.
With the main opposition, the TDP, hurling allegations against Botsa in the liquor syndicate scam, the leader sought a CBI probe, or an inquiry by a sitting High Court judge, into the issue.
Taking strong exception to the TDP's charges against him, the PCC president said that the allegations were baseless, and that the TDP was targeting him only to gain political mileage.
"I am ready to cooperate with any probing agency in the investigations," he said.
"The truth will come to light only through a high-level inquiry," he said.
The state Congress chief said that his family members own 31 shops in the district, which accounts for only a 27% share.
"If any of my family members violate government norms, I will give up my share in the liquor business," he said.
He slammed the TDP for raising the issue, saying that belt shops had cropped up during the TDP's rule, and that Naidu has no moral right to talk about liquor since he had violated the prohibition policy imposed by TDP founder N T Rama Rao and had given liberal permits to liquor shops.
He also asked party workers to inform Excise officials if shops are found selling liquor at price in violation of norms.
The PCC chief said that the government would establish a toll-free number to register complaints on the liquor issue. (INN)