TDP’s liquor policy faulty: YSRCP

Demanding the TDP government to stall its idea of following the Tamil Nadu model of excise policy, YSR Congress has said the Chief Minister instead of putting a check on the cheap liquor shops (belt shops) has been eagerly pursing the path of generating excise revenue by setting targets.

“Chandrababu Naidu was very vociferous during electioneering on closing down the belt shops and it was one of the five files he signed immediately after assuming office. With no enforcement or follow up of the GO, the shops are thriving three fold and the State is contemplating to directly enter the liquor trade on the lines of Tamil Nadu.

The flip side of the TDP will lead to dire consequences as many studies of the Tamil Nadu example have revealed and we demand the State to shun from such policies,”party spokesperson Vasireddy Padma told reporters here on Tuesday.

Chandrababu Naidu had used the anti-arrack movement earlier for political gains and has killed the spirit of the agitation by lifting prohibition.Though many years have passed by, the attitude of Chandrababu Naidu remains the

same. He has issued a GO scrapping belt shops, which is only a deed of showoff as therunning the shops is an illegal activity and there is no need to issue a fresh order and therules to deal with such offences are in place.

He did not convene any review meeting on the status of closing down the illegal shops,which in fact multiplied but has been convening meetings on a regular basis to increasethe excise revenue and is setting targets,” she said.“The double standards of the Chief Minister are thus exposed and the proposal to adopt the Tamil Nadu model of liquor policy will increase the crime rate and will lead to serious consequences,” she said.