Why Will Jagan Spend On UP Elections Against BJP!

The Jangareddygudem serial deaths kicked off an elaborate discussion on the new liquor policy introduced by the YCP government in Andhra Pradesh after it came to power. YCP rebel and Narasapuram MP K. Raghu Ramakrishna Raju had been expressing doubts over corruption in the entire supply-sale chain of new liquor brands in the state.

The ruling party leaders have been claiming that all the 27 deaths are natural while the opposition TDP alleged that they were ‘government murders’ as they occurred due to hooch, the manufacture of which is rampant in the state due to the negligence of the state officials.

Addressing mediapersons during his Rachabanda programme, RRR said the BJP alleged that Chief Minsiter Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy funded the elections in Uttar Pradesh to defeat their party in that state. BJP national secretary Satya Kumar alleged that the YCP, believing that Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav would win the polls, had helped the latter during the polls. There is talk that Jagan Reddy also had plans to introduce the exclusive liquor brands being sold in AP, in Ufttar Pradesh too, once Akhilesh gets voted to power, the YCP rebel said.

However, economists pointed out to the fact that Jagan could not supply the AP brands to Uttar Pradesh because there could be several other distilleries there, whose management can speak to Yadav and take the contract for the same in their state. In such a case, Jagan’s plans might go awry.

RRR too raised questions on why only cash was being accepted at AP liquor shops while the entire country was trying to go digital and make online payments. He also reiterated that the new liquor policy need not mean new brands, as was pointed out by his party colleague and MLA Ambati Rambabu. When a deep inquiry was done into the reason over why credit cards were not being accepted, it was found that the income from non-duty paid liquor is being diverted, while only that earned from the duty paid liquor is going to the state exchequer.

Everything under one control

Liquor shops are run by the government only and the supply is being done by manufacturers from within the state and only cash is being accepted during purchase of alcohol. This is appearing to be very organised from outside but he suspected something more than what meets the eye.

RRR questioned why liquor was being procured from breweries run by a single management and why routine brands were chucked out of the state. He had been alleging that the liquor being supplied in AP is sub-standard and pointed out that even Ambati had agreed to the fact. There are many distilleries ready to supply liquor at the same price quoted by the single management holding the tender in AP, he said and revealed that the other reputed manufacturers were being put away probably because they could not meet the kickbacks as expected by Jagan.

Unfortunately, the issue of quality of liquor falls in the food quality which falls in the purview of the state government and so the Centre has no say on this matter, RRR pointed out.

After Amma Vodi, the YCP’s liquor policy seems to be attracting officials of other states, pointed out senior political leaders.