A huge rally was held in Vijayawada, the capital of Andhra Pradesh, on January 8 by a broad united front formed to oppose the state’s liquor policy. The rally was followed by a seminar on the issue. The rally began at Hanumanta Rao Library and marched through several major thoroughfares of the city before culminating at Lenin Centre. The rally demanded withdrawal of the state government’s liquor policy, compensation for the kin of those died at an early age for liquor consumption and restricting the sale of liquor. It also demanded that liquor outlets be removed from near schools and temples, and on highways.

Addressing the rally, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat said the Telugu Desam Party, led by Chandrababu Naidu, came to power with the promise of removing all ‘belt shops’ but to this day, two lakh ‘belt shops’ are there in Andhra Pradesh. In addition, 4,500 shops have been given licence to sell liquor. There is a close nexus between political leaders and liquor dealers in Andhra Pradesh. Here, people may not get water from public taps but they will get liquor at any point of time, she said. A survey conducted by AIDWA found that the government of Andhra Pradesh is encouraging alcohol consumption among the people by giving licence to liquor shops at all places -- near highways, schools, temples, hospitals, etc.

A former Congress MLA was arrested a few days ago under charges of selling adulterated liquor. Will the Congress save him or expel him from the party, Karat asked. The Andhra Pradesh chief minister, instead of demanding a special package from Modi for the newly formed state, is bowing down before him and at the same time trying to meet the shortage of funds from the sale of liquor, she said. The local TDP leaders are maintaining liquor shops and many families are ruined by this unhindered availability of liquor. All members of the united forum gave a call to fight against the liquor policy.

National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) national secretary Annie Raja said Chandrababu Naidu failed to keep his word and hence he lost his honour. Members of both the ruling and the opposition parties in the state are holding liquor licence and their greed is making the state’s women orphans. Hence the sale of liquor should be limited, Raja demanded. Pragatiseela Mahila Sangham national secretary Jhansi said that though ration is not available in PDS outlets, liquor is definitely available in liquor shops.

This programme was organised by the united forum of 27 organisations, formed in December, 2015, to fight against the liquor policy of the state government. AIDWA state secretary Rama Devi, Durga Bhavani of NFIW, Ganga Bhavani of POW, Radha Rajeswari of CMS, Manorama of Mahila Satta, Lakshmana Reddy of Madya Vyatireka Vedika, Vijaya Kumara of AIFDW, Surya Rao of DYFI, Dhanalakshmi of Sramika Mahila and other leaders participated in the meeting.