All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary Ponguleti Sudhakar on Thursday scoffed at
attempts by the Telugu Desam Party to highlight the spread of illegal liquor outlets across the state.
Talking to media persons, Ponguleti said he was surprised and amused by demands of the TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu calling for curbs on spread of belt shops.
The AICC secretary reminded that YSR had raised his voice against illegal liquor outlets when Naidu was chief minister. He said that Naidu had brushed aside these objections by saying that the state exchequer would be hurt if curbs on liquor sales are imposed.
Ponguleti also said that the TDP regime holds the dubious distinction of turning police stations into liquor outlets.
He claimed that the people aligned with the TDP bagged the most licenses to run liquor shops during the recently-held auctions.
The senior Congress leader also accused the TDP of
raising the Babli project issue with an eye on the upcoming by-elections.
Revealing that he had personally met the Maharashtra Chief Minister over the issue of raising the height of the Babli Project in his capacity as AICC secretary, Ponguleti said he was assured by the neighbouring state's CM that the people of AP will not be adversely affected by the Babli Project.
When asked about the chances of Congress party in the forthcoming by-elections, he expressed confidence that the party will sweep the by-polls.
He also accused political parties of instigating BC Welfare leaders to raise objections over fee reimbursements with an eye on the by-elections.
Courtesy: INN News