Workers of Communist Party of India (CPI) on Tuesday staged dharna in front of the State Excise Commissioner’s office at Nampally urging the Government to withdraw GOMs No.723.
The GOMs No. 723 lays down the criteria for setting up new bars on the basis of population in the State.
Speaking on the occasion, CPI leader VS Bosesaid ''when we demanded opening up of the Babli gates, the Government is opening up the gates for bar licences.''
The move by the Government for setting up new bars is not a good sign for the development of the state. Further, it would open the floodgates and double the number of bars in the state.
Another CPI leader Chada Venkareddy said the state is keen on placing the hard=earned earnings of the poor and the middle class into the hands of the rich, by allowing them to sell liquor freely in the state.
He also said the state government has yielded to the pressure of the liquor mafia and turned Andhra Pradesh into 'Madyandhra Pradesh'.
The party leaders said ``what people need is drinking water, hospitals and ration shops, instead of more bars.'' They assured the people the CPI will fight until the government withdraws the GO.
Sensing the situation getting out of control, the police took a few party workers into custody and shifted them to Nampally police station.