VIJAYAWADA: YSRC chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy in an open letter to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday held him responsible for the death of anti-liquor crusader Mudunuri Subbamma in West Godavari district. Condoling the death of Subbamma, who died at Pathepuram of West Godavari district on Thursday due to cardiac arrest, he said the elderly woman along with 19 others had attempted suicide to protest liquor shops.
He said the increasing number of liquor shops and their door delivery is only making one wonder if the CM’s first signature ‘to remove belt shops’ has any value at all. “It is no different from another promise - farmer loan waiver. As against `87,612 crore loans, only `12,000 crore loans have been waived. Today, those who are waiting for the loan waiver are worried over the interest on the loans that is getting piled up.
YSRC chief said in last seven months, `11,000 crore revenue was earned from the Excise Department alone. Compared to previous years, revenue from excise is `13,640 crore and the estimated revenue at the end of current fiscal is likely to cross `17,000 crore, he said. “In addition to existing 24 liquor depots, nine new depots are being opened. What is the meaning of it? Is it not against the claims that revenue from liquor are not being considered important,” he questioned.
He also wondered where has the promised 20 liters of mineral water for `2 went. “However, the liquor is being made available for door delivery within minutes of a telephone call,” he criticised.
Jagan was also critical of the Excise Minister for promoting the beer as a health drink. He said no government can ban liquor in a single day. It has to be phased out by bringing a uniform price policy and measures similar to those adopted in containing the sales of tobacco products including cigarettes were taken need to be adopted.
Minister hits back
Meanwhile, responding the YSRC chief’s open letter, Excise Minister K S Jawahar said the person, who appears before the court every week, has no courage to speak the facts. “He speaks like a man who lost his mental balance. He should not write open letters, but make a public apology,” he said.
The minister claimed that they are containing the sale of liquor and said it is way better than what it was during YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s regime, which saw the sale of liquor going up from `3000 crore to `30,000 crore. “All those officials who worked in excise department during YSR tenure are facing ACB cases,” he said.