Women groups stage dharna for total prohibition of liquor

Rajamahendravaram: Various women associations staged a dharna at Y Junction here on Thursday, demanding that the government implement total prohibition in the state immediately.

Participating in the protest, BC Welfare women wing secretary K Harika underlined the need to implement total prohibition immediately to save many families. The government was trying to get more income through excise department at the cost of breaking up many families, mainly poor and middle class.

Many families were ruined because of liquor business. The TDP government was treating liquor trade as its main income generation source and fixing targets to the officials of excise department, which should be condemned by all. The liquor traders should feel shy for their demand to increase trade margin to 18 per cent, she added.

The Congress women wing leader A Lakshmi said many women were asking the government to ban liquor sales in the state, but the request was in vain. On the other hand, the government was running liquor shops without any concern for many poor families. Women were opposing the liquor and underscored the need to ban it immediately. TDP government was diluting former Chief Minister N T Rama Rao's wish in this regard, she alleged.

How can the government increase trade margin to liquor traders, she questioned and the women cannot be mere spectators if the government encourages liquor business.
Later, they submitted a memorandum to excise officials. City Congress president N V Srinivas and others participated in the agitation.