Former Minister Kakani Govardhan Reddy has condemned the alliance government for not upholding its promise to establish a just and transparent liquor policy. He alleges that leaders within the TDP alliance are harming government revenue and misusing public resources.
During a media briefing in Nellore on Wednesday, Reddy emphasized that the allocation of liquor shop licenses has fallen under the influence of syndicates, which dictate who can apply for shops in different regions. He further revealed that commissions are being solicited for these licenses, with various justifications used to secure stakes in the management of these establishments.
The YSRCP leader further alleged that certain politicians are pressuring excise officials, specifically naming Minister Narayana from Nellore and Minister Anita from Visakhapatnam. He claimed these leaders are ensuring their followers receive commissions and stakes in liquor shops. To support his claims, he referenced a recent audio recording involving Minister Narayana as evidence of these illicit activities.
Reddy emphasized that the number of applications for liquor shops is substantially lower than what the excise department has reported. He noted that in certain instances, just one or two applications were received for each shop, with many shops attracting no applications at all. This situation highlights the considerable control that liquor syndicates exert over the allocation process.
