The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Lok Satta leader begins padayatra

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Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Lok Satta leader begins padayatra

Staff Reporter

Total prohibition is Jayaprakash Narayan’s goal

Government earns Rs 8,000 crores from liquor consumption
Narayan vows to cleanse existing political system

— Photo: T. Vijaya Kumar

For a cause: Lok Satta National Convener Jayaprakash Narayan speaking to people at Gottipadu in Guntur district before launching the 63-km padayatra on Tuesday.

PEDAGOTTIPIPADU (GUNTUR): The moist air was rent with traditional drum beat as a cultural troupe of Lok Satta engaged a modest gathering at the S.C. Colony on Tuesday morning, the beginning point of three-day Pada Yatra launched demanding closure of all belt shops (Illegal Liquor shops).

There was an air of expectancy among the people gathered there as weeks before, they were witness to a courageous indefinite fast launched by two women, Jonnalagadda Jayabhagyamma and Kumari demanding closure of a belt shop in the colony. Moved by their plight, District Collector Mohammad Ali Rafat ordered closure of the shop.

Tirade

Amid this backdrop, Lok Satta National Convener Jayaprakash Narayan decided to launch the pada yatra from this colony. His brief speech did not disappoint the crowd, most of them daily labourers. “The belt shops are sucking away all the precious earnings of your husbands. The Governments, supposed to take punitive action, are happy as their cash strings are bulging. Gird up your loins and fight for closure of all belt shops,” he thundered.

He along with women of the colony forced close down of a belt shop, ‘Srinivasa Wines’ as token of beginning the movement. Continuing the tirade against the State Government, he said that the Government which spends only Rs.6 crore towards providing health facilities at the sub centres was getting Rs.8,000 crores from the powerful liquor lobby.

“The earnings from liquor consumption from Prathipadu constituency alone is Rs.30 crore,” he said. Lok Satta demands, not just the closure of belt shops, but cancellation of licenses given to these shops as well. He also pointed out women in some villages had said that they would reimburse the entire amount paid by the dealer to get the license.

Drawing parallel with the historic Satyagraha movement, Mr. Narayan vowed to cleanse the existing political system in the State within two years. “Lok Satta will become a national force to reckon with within the next 10 years,” he said. He took to task the political leaders who have been luring the voters with liquor and money.

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