There was a heated debate in the Telangana assembly on the management of new liquor shops and belt shops. An argument broke out between Minister Sridhar Babu and former Minister Vemula Prashanth Reddy (BRS) on this.
Vemula Prashanth Reddy alleged that the state government is increasing liquor rates indiscriminately to increase revenue and that the new liquor policy should be withdrawn immediately.
He questioned whether the government’s new brands, new beers, new bars, and new pubs are the government’s policy? Alleging that efforts are being made to increase belt shops to increase revenue, he demanded that belt shops be removed across the state.
Legislative Affairs Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu countered this and expressed anger that liquor sales were carried out indiscriminately during the BRS regime. He lamented that BRS has a history of giving permission for liquor sales even in ration shops. He said that their attitude towards belt shops was like the devils reciting the Vedas.
He said that it is gratifying that Prashanth Reddy admitted that he brought belt shops himself. He said that there should be no leakages in the government and that he would increase the revenue, and he alleged that during the BRS regime, liquor was sold in cheap shops in a haphazard manner.
Minister Sridhar Babu clarified that the government would operate without leakages in the excise department and that changes would be made in the administration to increase revenue. Is it your history that has increased liquor sales fourfold?, he asked.
Meanwhile, Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao clarified that the credit for increasing the number of belt shops belongs to BRS. Replying to a question on liquor sales asked by BRS MLA Prashanth Reddy, Jupally said that everyone knows how the previous BRS government increased liquor revenue from Rs 9,000 crore in 2014 to Rs 34,000 crore by 2023.
He alleged that belt shops were illegally increased and liquor was sold through them. He replied that now the Congress government is conducting raids to stop liquor smuggling and has banned drinking alcohol in farm houses.