Tuesday, Oct 28, 2003
Tuesday, Oct 28, 2003 |
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Andhra Pradesh
By Our Special Correspondent
Addressing a press conference, the Congress Legislature Party Leader, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, said that the High Court, while allowing the writ petitions filed by the Goa-based Crag Martin Distillery, ruled on September 12 that the liquor policy was monopolistic and tantamount to conferring exclusive patronage on the existing distilleries without any redeeming public interest justification or a constitutional purpose. The court was categorical in stating that the State's stand on surplus capacity was unfounded since expansion of distilleries was allowed in the garb of modernisation. Dr. Reddy said this policy had been evolved only to benefit liquor companies to the tune of Rs.2, 000 crores in excess payments in the last eight years. Last year alone, Rs.356 crores were paid in excess to the suppliers of liquor by the AP Beverages Corporation Limited compared to the prevailing liquor prices of other States. Dr. Reddy said that this profiteering was allowed by the Government under the pretext of buying whisky that was different from the brands supplied in the neighbouring States. In reality, the only difference was ``in the label, not in the contents'', he argued. Questioning the motives behind bestowing such largesse with select liquor companies and suppliers, He said the inexplicable relaxation of vigil in allowing the companies to step up their production or quote higher prices had not only robbed the State exchequer of hundreds of crores of rupees but also harmed the interests of the general public. The Congress had grilled the Government in the Assembly on its liquor policy suspecting foul play but the ruling party steadfastly defended it. All members of the party were suspended for stalling the proceedings then on the issue of large-scale corruption in buying the liquor, he said. A case of Royal Challenge was priced at Rs.1, 703 in Karnataka while the same cost Rs.1, 930 here, he alleged. Likewise, there was a ``huge profit margin'' involving all the brands supplied to the APBCL. He said the Government had rubbished the findings of the Vigilance Commission in this regard when the Opposition highlighted the same.
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