KA Paul is deeply upset with Jagan, KCR Decision

Noted evangelist and Praja Shanti party founder K.A. Paul, who was all praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Chief Ministers of both the Telugu speaking states for effectively handling the Covid-19 pandemic a few weeks ago, strongly objected to opening of liquor shops in Andhra Pradesh and Telangna even when the number of positive cases was increasing.

He said that sale of liquor would not only put the life of tipplers at risk but also pose threat to their family members. He faulted the decision of AP CM Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and TS CM K. Chandrashekar Rao.

Paul, who is in USA now, suggested that it was not fair on the part of the Centre as well as the state governments to open the liquor shops to earn revenue during the pandemic. Instead, they should explore other ways to get revenue, he suggested.

The evangelist wondered where have the tall claims of political parties at the hustings to ban liquor gone. “Is there a necessity to sell liquor amid the threat of coronavirus infection when thousands of people are dying due to Covid-19,” he asked.

Further, he said there were reports of a 30 per cent spike in the number of Covid-19 cases in the US even when lockdown is being implemented strictly. “Now, the health experts are suggesting that there should be 6-ft distance between two persons to prevent contracting Covid-19. I viewed a video in which people were standing very close to each for more than a kilometre. This will lead to serious consequences as hundreds of these tipplers can catch the infection and spread the virus to their families,” he reasoned.

He reminded that health experts had been warning that the situation warranted strict implementation of lockdown for 3-6 months. He was upset with the AP and TS governments for taking a decision to open liquor shops even when the situation was serious in both the Telugu speaking states.