Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad   

CM can't escape blame: Cong.

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD Aug. 22. The PCC chief spokesperson, K. Rosaiah, has attributed the liquor deaths to the apathy of Excise Department officials. Talking to presspersons on Friday, Mr. Rosaiah said the Chief Minister should take the blame for the liquor deaths as he had converted the department into a liquor marketing agency and reduced officials to the status of liquor salespersons.

Regulation and quality check were a far cry and the only purpose was to sell more and more liquor, he said. The State had attained the dubious distinction of topping the liquor sales in the country in a short period. The Chief Minister ought to keep in mind the damage his Government's policies were doing to people.

In the past, the TDP had opposed the Congress policy of phasing out liquor sales, yet, the same party was now promoting it by multiplying the targets of wine dealers.

The result of all these measures was that the entire State had become an open bar, he said pointing to the proliferating belt shops. He urged the Government to recast its excise policy and stop playing with the lives of people.

Referring to the manhandling of the former PCC secretary, Karunakar Reddy, by the Tirupati police, Mr. Rosaiah demanded an enquiry into the episode, including the alleged ill-treatment of police officials by the Minister for DWCRA, B. Gopalakrishna Reddy.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Tree uprooted on Secretariat premises
• Ties with TDP on even keel: BJP
• Step up vigil against ISI activities: Hindu Vahini
• CM can't escape blame: Cong.
• Cong., TDP plead for greater assistance to State
• Separate Telangana a certainty: KCR
• CPI(M) vows to force closure of `belt shops'
• Progress of Green Hyderabad project reviewed
• Toddy-tappers plan stir
• Teachers' union hails Govt. gesture

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu