Date:28/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/28/stories/2008042857550400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Naidu promises total prohibition

Staff Reporter

SAVALYAPURAM (Guntur Dt.): Telugu Desam Party will impose total prohibition in phases once the party comes to power, party president Nara Chandarbabu Naidu told reporters here on Sunday, while criticising the Congress Government for encouraging large number of belt shops.

Telugu Desam Party’s stand on carving out Telangana would depend on the opinion of the people in that region, said Mr. Naidu vehemently dismissing the claim of the TRS that there was a strong sentiment for creation of the new State. He claimed that there was demand for Telangana in only three districts of the region, but there were other issues to be discussed during the coming byelections, he added.

Belt shops

On the seventh day of his ‘Mee Kosam’ Chaitanya Yatra which entered Guntur district, he promised to close down all the 70,000 unauthorised liquor shops (belt shops) in the first phase and after discussion with all the stake holders, would totally prohibit sale of all kinds of liquor in the State.