YSRCP’s Varudu Kalyani Criticizes TDP’s New Liquor Policy in Andhra Pradesh
Tadepalli (Andhra Pradesh) [India], October 3: Varudu Kalyani, the President of the Women’s Wing of the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) and a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC), has criticized the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) coalition government for its new liquor policy. She expressed concerns about its negative impact on the public, calling it harmful and designed solely for financial gains.
Speaking to the media, Kalyani condemned the privatisation of liquor sales, stating that it would lead to the formation of syndicates and widespread exploitation. She questioned why the government was pushing to increase liquor sales when it should be focusing on improving essential services. The cancellation of the previous policy and the introduction of the new one have raised doubts about the government’s intentions.
In a video posted by the YSRCP on X, Kalyani said, “The government should take responsibility for controlling alcohol. Why are government-owned liquor shops being handed over to the private sector? The coalition government introduced this ‘brandy policy’ on Gandhi’s birth anniversary.”
“It is harmful to privatise alcohol and implement a policy that encourages illegal sales. Women are strongly against it,” she added.
Earlier, the TDP-led Andhra Pradesh government notified a new liquor policy, expecting to collect around Rs 5,500 crore in revenue. The policy will come into effect from October 12. MLC Kalyani also criticised the government for offering cheap liquor, emphasising that instead of addressing the rising prices of essential goods, the focus was on promoting alcohol.
“The government is providing low-cost alcohol, which could damage the social fabric of society,” she said. She further claimed that rather than guaranteeing welfare schemes for women, the government was turning homes into distribution points for alcohol.
Kalyani also voiced concerns over the introduction of liquor malls, comparing them to shopping malls. She argued that unregulated liquor sales would pose serious safety risks for women. Questioning the government’s inconsistency, she asked Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu why liquor sales continued for three months despite him claiming it was of poor quality.
The new liquor policy, notified by the government on September 30, has a two-year licensing period, lasting until 2026. It lifts previous restrictions imposed by the former government, which had prevented private retailers from selling liquor. The state government’s notification has opened more than 3,000 shops across the state to the private sector for liquor sales.
Doubts Revealed
YSRCP -: YSRCP stands for Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party. It is a political party in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
Varudu Kalyani -: Varudu Kalyani is a leader in the YSRCP and serves as the President of the party’s Women’s Wing. She is involved in political activities and represents women’s issues.
TDP -: TDP stands for Telugu Desam Party. It is another major political party in Andhra Pradesh, often in opposition to the YSRCP.
Liquor Policy -: A liquor policy is a set of rules and regulations that a government creates to control the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages. It can affect how and where alcohol is sold.
Privatization -: Privatization means transferring the control of a business or service from the government to private companies. In this context, it refers to allowing private retailers to sell liquor instead of government-run shops.
Syndicates -: Syndicates are groups of people or organizations that come together to achieve a common goal, often for business purposes. In this case, it refers to groups that might control liquor sales for profit.
Liquor Malls -: Liquor malls are large stores that sell a wide variety of alcoholic beverages. They are similar to shopping malls but focus on selling liquor.
Revenue -: Revenue is the money that a government or business earns from its activities. In this case, it refers to the money the government expects to earn from the new liquor policy.
