The tragic incident of five spurious-liquor deaths in Vijayawada on Monday morning hit the state government hard. Even though the TDP party, the government and the police claim that they would take action against those involved in the sale of spurious liquor, many fingers point to the culpability of the government in the murky episode. This threatm, no doubt, is directed towards the former Congress MLA and City Congress president Malladi Vishnu. Good, this is welcome. Many questions, however, remain unanswered. 1.Who allowed the bars function since 6 AM to mid night. 2. Why does the government suddenly choose to ban the sale of 7 brands of liquor. 3. How does the government or excise department know that these brands are of dubious quality 4. Has the government identified the Excise department officials to fix responsibility for allowing the bar function without any time-table and for allowing these suspects brands enter supply menu of state government. In Andhra Pradesh, it is the state government that has monopoly over the liquor wholesale trade. And now Jagan has given a new twist to the liquor issues that he would implement total prohibition in the state once they come to the power. This demand, is bound to derive some support to the opposition leader from women and women’s organizations who have been advocating the prohibition.
Tormented by these issues, State government has put on hold the announcement of new bar licensing policy. The policy, which was to be released on December 7, will be announced by the end of this month, if nothing comes in the way.
According to senior officials of the excise department, all preparations were made for the announcement of the new bar licensing policy on Monday, but as the tragedy had taken place on the same day, the announcement of policy had been put on hold. ” Now, after the Swarna Bar incident wary Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu wants to make amends to the proposed new bar licensing policy in order to contain sale of spurious liquor,” a top excise official said.
Tthe cash-crunch in the state has forced the government to plan more number of bars in the State and has even plans to issue licenses in the newly created municipalities, almost doubling the number of bars. The Vijayawada death put paid to the plans of chief minister to issue bar licenses freely including in the newly created 24 Nagar Panchayats. ” At present there are about 770 bars running in the State. The new policy is aimed at almost doubling the number”, sources said.
