The new excise policy of the government invited the wrath of the women’s organisations
Police personnel detain Aidwa activists as they stage protest against the liquor shop auctions in Visakhapatnam on Monday. (Photo: DC)
Visakhapatnam: Tension prevailed in front of DLB Kalyana Mandapam where the district administration began the process of allotment of liquor shops through lottery when hundreds of women activists of Aidwa and a few other women’s organisations staged a massive protest demanding the state government to cancel its new excise policy on Monday morning.
The new excise policy of the government invited the wrath of the women’s organisations. The All India Democra-tic Women’s Association (AIDWA) leaders A. Vimala, R.S. Madhavi and Padmavathi said that the TD government has promised that it would phase out illegal booze vends in the state. But, now they have introduced the new liquor policy to turn the state into a haven for tipplers. Coming down heavily on Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu for pushing the liquor trade, the leaders said that Mr Naidu has been acting as a brand ambassador for liquor firms in the state by encouraging the tipplers.
Some agitators pointed out that in Andhra Pradesh one can get liquor round-the-clock at every nook and corner, whereas getting safe drinking water is a still a distant dream. With the round-the-clock availability of liquor in the state the safety of women on roads was a matter of concern as alcohol induced crimes have been rising in the state. As the situation turned tense, the police took all the agitators into their custody and the process of allotment of liquor shops through lottery system continued till midnight.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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