Expressing serious concern over the hooch tragedy, which claimed lives of 17 tribals at Mylavaram in Krishna district on the New Year’s eve, Praja Rajyam Party president K Chiranjeevi on Monday wrote a letter to Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy demanding compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the victims’ families.
In the letter, Chiranjeevi asked the Chief Minister to take stern action against the guilty and provide medical assistance to those who battling for life at the hospitals in Vijayawada. Stating that such incidents would damage the party’s image, Chiranjeevi appealed to the government to launch a campaign on prohibition among public.
Chiranjeevi accused the Excise Department of not taking adequate measures to check sale of spurious liquor in the State. He said that consumption of `cheap liquor’ was responsible for Mylavaram deaths, Chiranjeevi asked the government to take steps to sell liquor as per government fixed rates to prevent such incidents in future.
The Tirpuati MLA also held Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu responsible for lifting ban on liquor and giving liberal permits for liquor shops. He said Naidu was now shedding `crocodile’s tears’ on the incident to draw political mileage.