Lok Satta Party Slams Women Destroying Liquor Shops

The Lok Satta Party, today, took strong exception to Union Rural Development minister Jairam Ramesh and State Panchayat Raj minister K Jana Reddy inciting women to smash illegal liquor outlets (locally known as belt shops) with the assurance that no cases would be instituted against them for indulging in vandalism.

"Shirking its responsibility of shutting down illegal outlets reflects not merely the government's incompetence but also its irresponsibility," commented Lok Satta Party general secretary P Ravi Maruthi, and party secretary Eeda Chennayya, in a media statement.

The leaders pointed out that the emergence and proliferation of belt shops under successive governments is a direct fall-out of the state government's flawed liquor policy.

The party members claimed that the Lok Satta Party has repeatedly told the government that illegal liquor outlets sprout and flourish as long as the government allocates liquor shops to private traders.

They eaders said that if the government decides to be sincere and serious in its efforts, belt shops can be eliminated with ease.

"If it (government) chooses to persist with private trade, it can entrust panchayats with the responsibility of ensuring that there are no belt shops in their jurisdiction, and stipulate that any failure on their part will result in dissolution of the elected body. It can even enlist the services of self-help groups in its campaign against belt shops," suggested the Lok Satta Party members.

The Lok Satta leaders also had a dig at TDP president and leader of the opposition, N Chandrababu Naidu, for asserting that his second signature on assuming as Chief Minister would be on a GO banning belt shops.

"Naidu seems to have forgotten that no GO is required for shutting down what are apparently illegal outlets," said the Lok Satta Party members. (INN)