Govt. pursuing liquor-driven revenue policy at public expense: Harish Rao

Hyderabad

Former Minister and BRS MLA T. Harish Rao accused Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy of pursuing a liquor-driven revenue policy at the expense of public welfare.

In a statement, Mr. Rao alleged that the government, instead of providing relief to citizens, was ensuring that more people had more access to liquor at higher prices. He criticised the hike in application fee for liquor shops from ₹2 lakh to ₹3 lakh, and said that the arbitrary increase in liquor prices also showed the government’s intent to double excise income.

He said the Congress promised to remove belt shops but now they have flooded every village with liquor. He alleged that the CM was pressurising officials to achieve liquor sales targets.

Mr. Rao also alleged that the government was pushing microbreweries into every town, thereby turning Telangana into a “state of drinkers.” He also accused the government of misleading the Gowda community by announcing 25% reservation in wine shops, while failing to implement even the earlier 15% quota introduced under KCR’s government.