Vijayawada: YSR Congress Party president Jaganmohan Reddy has called for total prohibition of alcohol in Andhra Pradesh, a day after five people died after drinking spurious liquor. “Gujarat government has been successfully implementing total prohibition in the state. Recently, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar is contemplating prohibition in his state... Why cannot Chandrababu Naidu initiate such action?” he asked.
Five persons died and 15 others were hospitalised after they consumed spurious liquor from an outlet in Vijayawada. Reddy addressed reporters after visiting a government hospital where the victims of the incident were undergoing treatment. “The policy of the current government to set target in sale of liquor causes corruption and gives rise to sale of spurious liquor. In a bid to meet the sales target, wine shops are allowed to stay open round-the-clock and they in turn allow unauthorised shops to function,” the opposition leader said.
“The volume of liquor sales shows that state government is very much keen on supporting the liquor trade,” he added. Reddy said his party would impose total prohibition if it got elected in next Assembly elections “in interest of the poor and women”.
