YSRCP Protests Against AP's Excise Policy

Rejecting the liquor policy announced by the state government, YSR Congress has said that it will agitate against permit rooms, as "the main aim of the policy seems to be concerned with increasing the revenue without any concern for people's welfare".

"The government had kept the GOs under wraps until they were exposed by the media. Then, the government resorted to announcing the liquor policy in a hurry. The policy has no mention of closing down the illegal liquor (belt) shops," party leader and former MLA A Praveen Kumar Reddy told reporters on Tuesday.

"The liquor policy has given liquor shops permission to keep permit rooms open after paying fees of Rs. 2 lakhs. This move will increase the atrocities against women, as well as other criminal activities," alleged Praveen Kumar Reddy.

"We oppose the policy outright, and will agitate if the permit room provision to the 6,000 wine shops is not withdrawn," he warned.

Reddy went to say, "The state always had a soft corner for the liquor mafia, and issued 35 GOs to manufacture over 7.4 crore litres of liquor in the past. The revenue on liquor has increased from Rs. 5,000 crores during YSR's term, to Rs. 22,000 crores now. This shows that the government is concerned only with filling up its own coffers."

"Our policy on liquor is very clear. We will appoint 10 women constables in every panchayat to check illegal outlets of liquor. We also plan to discourage the sale of liquor by making it available at higher prices, and that too, only at selected places," he said. (INN)