-Jagan statement on illicit liquor objectionable: Ramaiah
-Illicit liquor made in densely populated Hyderabad
AMARAVATI: TDP politburo member Varla Ramaiah on Tuesday demanded Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy to clarify on the 10 cases that were registered by the Jangareddygudem police against illicit liquor makers.
Ramaiah asked how the Chief Minister could make misleading statements in the Assembly that there was no illicit liquor in the State. Was the CM making such statements without knowing about these police cases?
Addressing a press conference here, the TDP leader strongly objected to Jagan Reddy expressing surprise how illicit liquor could be made in a town of over 55,000 population. It was unfortunate that the CM was ignorant about large quantities of such liquor being made in the highly populated Dhoolpet in Hyderabad which had one crore population.
Ramaiah deplored that in a temple-like place like the Assembly, the Chief Minister was continuing to make false statements on each and every issue. Portraying the hooch fatalities as natural deaths was highly condemnable. There was no doubt that the ruling YSRCP leaders colluded with the illicit liquor mafia.
The TDP leader asked how Jagan Reddy could not get information about the illicit liquor drums and dens being smashed by the authorities. On his part, Leader of Opposition Chandrababu Naidu went to the doorsteps of the victims families and unravelled facts. The 151-MLAs strong YCP Government seemed bent upon protesting the interests of illicit liquor mafia but those of the people.
Ramaiah said Minister Botsa Satyanarayana’s statement was tantamount to insulting CM Jagan Mohan Reddy’s formal statement in the Assembly. How could the Chief Minister say they were natural deaths without any documentary evidence? CM Jagan was not getting his facts checked nor even was he showing interest to get factual information from the concerned authorities.
The TDP leader expressed concern that the YCP regime had not only reneged on its promise of phased prohibition but also aimed at increasing its revenue from the sale of liquor. The excise revenue was just Rs. 6,000 Cr during the Chandrababu regime. The Jagan rule had increased it to Rs. 16,500 Cr. They were drawing plans to increase the liquor revenue even further to Rs. 20,000 Cr.
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