Govt. to blame for arrack Tragedy: Mahila Satta

Holding the Government squarely responsible for the hooch tragedy in East Godavari district resulting in loss of 14 lives, the Mahila Satta today demanded that the Government punish not merely excise officials and bootleggers but also the politicians behind them.

In a media statement, Mrs. N. Saroja Devi and Mrs. M. Mahalakshmi, President and Vice-President of the Mahila Satta, recalled that it was not for the first time people had fallen victim to adulterated drinks. Although arrack manufacture stands banned, illegal brewing of arrack and gudumba continues unabated in the State.

The Mahila Satta, they pointed out, had carried on a sustained agitation against the State Government’s excise policy. The Government allowed illegal outlets known as belt shops to proliferate, ignoring the fact that liquor had ruined the lives of nearly 75 lakh families in the State.

The Lok Satta and the Mahila Satta would like the Government to put an end to excise auctions as the highest bidders for liquor outlets promoted belt shops to maximize their sales and profits. The number of liquor outlets should be limited and illegal manufacture of arrack and gudumba be crushed with an iron hand.