Andhra Pradesh Excise minister K Jawahar’s comment in a television interview that beer is a health drink and that he was ready to prove it evoked strong reaction from the YSR Congress party.
Taking strong objection to Jawahar’s remarks, YSR Congress party MLA R K Roja said the excise minister’s statement that beer is a health drink shows his audacity to promote liquor and indicates the priorities of the state.
The cabinet has taken a decision to de-notify the national highways to enable more liquor outlets which shows that the cabinet has no concern for women and the anti-liquor struggle but it needs only excise revenue.
“We will take up the issue and agitate for closure of liquor outlets and bars on highways,” she said.
The Supreme Court has given a ruling that liquor outlets should be 500 meters away from national highways and 220 meters away from state highways and the cabinet decision to de-notify the national highways is to encourage liquor shops and bars, she said.
Of the 885 bars in the state 660 bars are on highways and 3,500 liquor outlets are on the highways which shows that there is no concern for safety of people.
The state cabinet has decided to covert national highways into state highways through denotification to enable more liquor outlets.
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