Parties told to promise liquor ban in manifestos

Vijayawada: The leaders of anti-liquor movement demanded that the political parties promise liquor ban in their election manifestos. In a state-level seminar conducted jointly by Jana Chaitanya Vedika (JCV) and Vavilala Organisation at MB Bhavan here on Wednesday, several leaders of anti-liquor movement demanded that the government ban liquor sale at least weekly one day in a week and close the belt shops completely in residential areas.

CPM state committee member Y Venkateswara Rao said that all political parties promise prohibition before election but forget it later. He said that the parties failed to take steps in this regard as they offered tickets to liquor traders. As the politics turned into commercial activity, he requested all the people’s organisations, women’s associations and people to fight against the liquor sale.

Expressing serious concern over the liquor business in the state, Congress senior leader N Tulasi Reddy said poor sections were being ruined by liquor addiction and blamed governments’ drive to earn more through its sale. YSRCP city unit president Vellampalli Srinivas said more than drinking water, liquor was available everywhere in the state. Former MLC Lakshmana Rao and JCV state president Lakshmana Reddy were present.