TDP has said that it would continue its fight until the government withdrew its new excise policy and ran the liquor shops itself.
Party’s senior leader Dadi Veerabhadra Rao said in a statement here on Wednesday that the government which boasted of bringing a never heard off excise policy and eliminating liquor syndicates, has introduced a policy which was nothing but old wine in new bottle. Having appointed a cabinet sub-committee and after organizing several meetings, the policy that was ushered in, would no way be able to bring any control, he added.
He said the liquor syndicates which have been running the liquor shops have themselves once again snatched the shops in the new system as well. He further said that as the liquor mafia had formed into syndicates well before the lottery system was implemented, for 2000 shops only one application each was received. He has alleged that in the areas where mafia leaders wielded influence, they have stopped others from applying. He has alleged that the new policy gave chance to reduction of government’s revenue and providing opportunity for the liquor mafia to make money. He has also said that liquor mafia would further get strengthened because of the new policy.
Stating that there was never a more deceitful policy in the world, he said liquor syndicates could be eliminated only hen the government ran the shops itself. (NSS)