As the State government introduced its new excise policy, the Telugu Desam and the CPI staged demonstrations in the city demanding scrapping of the policy which would destroy the health and economy of people.
Telugu Desam staged the demonstration in front of the office of Deputy Commissioner of Excise and Prohibition. The CPI organised a protest in front of the Collectorate displaying empty liquor bottles.
The Chief Minister had in the past assured people of removing the belt shops but now he had introduced the sitting rooms at all wine shops with the sole aim of increasing the consumption of liquor and thereby the revenue at the cost of people, the TDP leaders alleged.
City president of the party V. Ganesh Kumar, in-charges of Assembly segments P.V.G.R. Naidu, Harshavardhana Prasad, Srinivas and former corporators Salapala Seetaramanjaneyulu, Vijayalakshmi, senior leaders M. Sundaram Patrudu, city Telugu Mahila president A. Vani, State secretary K. Prabhavathi and a large number of women participated.
The TDP leaders allege that the new policy would benefit the liquor mafia. Selling liquor till 11 p.m. would lead to law and order problem and women would become more vulnerable.
CPI district secretary J.V. Satyanarayana Murthy said it was a social tragedy that liquor policy would bleed people white. Sale of liquor must be controlled, the sitting rooms and belt shops removed and liquor shops must not be allowed near schools and places of worship. The CPI leader demanded that government must run the liquor shops on its own. City president M. Pydi Raju and other leaders like K. Satyanjaneya, G. Vamana Rao participated.
