Congress Links Liquor To Attacks On Women, Seeks Shutdown Of Belt Shops

Deploring the increasing sexual attacks on women in Telangana in recent times, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Thursday said that the brutal murders of Disha in the city, Manasa in Warangal and Lakshmi in Asifabad district in the State had shaken each and every person in the State.

He conveyed his sympathies on behalf of his party to all the family members of each of the victims.

Bhatti claimed that the sale of liquor had gone up in the State in recent times, and that there was a direct link between liquor sales and the "spurt" in the attacks on women in the State.

He said that the State government had sold some 18 lakh cartons of liquor bottles last year, and that all that profit to the treasury was coming at a huge social cost - the State was registering at least two cases of women missing every day, he claimed.

He therefore demanded that the State government immediately shut down at least all the illegal liquor shops in the State.

He also said that the Congress would soon start a State-wide agitation against illegal belt shops and permit rooms.

Bhatti targeted the ruling TRS on other issues, too. He said that the police were working for the welfare of the ruling party instead of the people, and also slammed the hike in bus charges, asking the Chief Minister why he allowed a bus fare hike after promising to release Rs 1,000 crore to the TSRTC.