The Hindu : Front Page : Ready for prohibition, says Naidu

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Wednesday, Sep 24, 2008
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Ready for prohibition, says Naidu

— PHOTO: NAGARA GOPAL

ON A HIGH: TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu at the ‘Gouda Garjana’ in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

HYDERABAD: Telugu Desam Party president N. Chandrababu Naidu has expressed his party’s willingness to implement either total prohibition or stringent regulation of liquor sale if voted back to power in the State.

The TDP president, however, admitted that total prohibition could not be successfully implemented anywhere across the country. The rampant sale of ‘cheap liquor’ promoted by the Congress government through belt shops had turned liquor consumption into a social problem and there was a need to find a permanent solution to it.

“We are prepared for either prohibition or stringent regulation of liquor sale. There should be a debate at all levels to evolve a mechanism to check the menace,” he said addressing the valedictory of the two-day convention of Telugu Mahila, party’s women’s wing on Tuesday. He lashed out at the government for encouraging liquor consumption to mobilise revenue that was, in turn, being “invested in areas where there is scope for kickbacks”.

The commitment of the government to address the problems faced by women could be gauged by the fact that the raids that were commenced on hoarders were abruptly stopped as there was pressure from the ruling party leaders.

The ‘hollowness’ in claims on women empowerment was evident from the fact that the Congress, despite being headed by Sonia Gandhi, could not introduce the women’s quota Bill in the Parliament four-and-a-half years after it came to power.

Asserting that the TDP was committed to giving more tickets to women, he, however, wanted the aspirants to create confidence in the leadership about their prospects.

Telugu Mahila president Roja, TDP spokesperson N. Rajakumari and others spoke.

Later, Mr. Naidu had a meeting with the toddy tappers.

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