Andhra Pradesh Dalit Maha Sabha convener Katti Padma Rao on Monday demanded a complete prohibition on liquor in the State in the wake of murder of Bethala Kantha Suneela here recently.
Ms. Suneela was killed on April 8 after she had been allegedly pushed under the wheels of a lorry after she had taken a group of men harassing her daughter.
Mr. Padma Rao said that he wanted to take the movement against liquor across the State by taking along like-minded parties and women groups.
Addressing a public meeting here on Monday, Mr. Padma Rao found fault with the State government for trying to take cover under the pretext that Excise revenue constitutes a significant chunk of State revenue.
“The State is endowed with many natural resources. Why should the government depend on revenue from Excise Department?” Mr. Padma Rao questioned.
Raising the pitch for complete utilisation of funds under SC & ST Sub-Plan, Mr. Padma Rao demanded that every woman SC beneficiary should be provided with 1 acre each by drawing funds from the SC & ST Sub-Plan.
“If the government provides land, the extent of cultivable land will significantly go up and reduce poverty levels,” he said.
Demanding a judicial enquiry on the incident, Mr. Padma Rao declared that he would stage a Maha Dharna in Tenali on May 6, if the police did not substantiate charges against one of the accused, U. Naga Raju, who is a son of former vice-chairman of Tenali Muncipality.
The licence of the wine shop should be cancelled and a memorial building should be constructed in the site where Suneela was killed.
Communist Party of India, district secretary, D. Rama Devi also spoke.
Representatives of many women organisations, Challapalli Sudha Rani, Sandhya took part in the meeting.
