Demanding total prohibition in the fledgling State of Telangana, Auto and taxi drivers on Sunday staged a dharna at Indira Park here against the liquor policy of the TRS government. At the protest, the agitators shouted slogans like “Sabse Kharab, Sharab, Sharab, KCR Hosh Mein Aao — Sharab Hatao” and so on
Addressing the protesting auto and taxi drivers on the occasion, Telangana Auto Drivers Joint Action Committee convener Mohd Amanullah Khan declared that he would go on fast-unto-death if the government failed to take a decision to enforce total prohibition before the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections.
Admitting that the development and welfare schemes of the KCR government are very good, the liquor policy of the government needs to be reconsidered because it has gone a step forward and reopened the toddy compounds within the GHMC limits. He also alleged that the government was giving much importance to the revenue coming from liquor sales and disregarding the interests of the poorest of the poor. He also observed that unless the government enforced total prohibition, the Chief Minister’s goal of transforming the backward Telangana State into golden one would remain a distant dream only.
Pointing out that harmful pan masaala “gutka” packets are available in plenty at every nook and corner and people freely indulging in smoking cigarettes at public places despite the ban, Amanullah Khan demanded that the government rise to the occasion and put a stop to these social evils.
Telangana Auto Drivers JAC leaders J. Ravinder, Shanawaz Khan, MA Saleem, Shivanandam, Sk Yaseen, Sathi Reddy, Kamalakar Reddy, Syed Mahboob, Mohd Azeemuddin, Mujahed Hashmi and Syed Ghouse Lucky also spoke. (NSS)
