Press Releases Archive

Govt. has succumbed to liquor lobby, Charges Lok Satta

The Lok Satta Party today accused the State Government of succumbing to the liquor lobby in deciding to award liquor shop licenses to private parties through a lottery system.

In a media statement, Lok Satta Party General Secretary Katari Srinivasa Rao said that the Chief Minister had gone back on his promise to consult all parties before announcing the new liquor policy and issued the G. O. unilaterally. The policy is nothing but old wine in a new bottle. Through the so-called new policy, Mr. N. Kiran Kumar Reddy has demonstrated that he is no different from his predecessors, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, who opened doors for belt shops and Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, who spread them to every nook and corner.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao pointed out that the new policy effective from July 1, 2012 will once again lead to the sprouting of shops in benami names, formation of syndicates, proliferation of belt shops, flow of non-duty paid liquor and sale of liquor above the MRP (maximum retail price) as in the past.

If the Government does not revoke the policy, the Lok Satta Party in association with other parties and civil society organizations will mount an agitation and take recourse to legal means, warned Mr. Srinivasa Rao.

Considering that unbridled flow of liquor in the State has ruined millions of families, the Government should take over retail trade and rein in liquor consumption by restricting the number of shops and the timing of their operation. Panchayats should be empowered to prevent illicit distillation and unauthorized sale of liquor. If they fail to discharge their duty, they should attract the penalty of dissolution, said the Lok Satta General Secretary.

Monday, June 18, 2012 - 18:13

Dr. JP calls for re-alignment of political forces in AP

Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan today called for a re-alignment of political forces in the State in the wake of the collapse of both the ruling Congress and the Opposition TDP.

Addressing a media conference on the results of the by-elections to one Lok Sabha and 18 Assembly seats, Dr. JP said that the Lok Satta Party in association with Left parties would work out an agenda for restoring ethical politics in the State. The politics of both the Congress and the TDP have revolved round abusing power and making money. In the process, they have centralized power, made legislators uncrowned kings and succeeded in casting a spell on people by offering them temporary sops instead of making them self-reliant.

Dr. JP said the Congress and the TDP fought the by-elections without an agenda and spent crores of rupees to woo voters. Andhra Pradesh has earned notoriety for setting benchmarks in gargantuan election expenditure. While the two parties focused on Mr. Y S. Jaganmohan Reddy's corruption, the YSR Congress talked about the injustice meted out to the YSR family. The talk on corruption did not click because people felt all traditional parties are corrupt.

Dr. JP said that political parties without a credible agenda, leaders who command the love, affection and trust of followers and confidence of victory in elections are bound to collapse. It is against such a backdrop that the YSR Party profited from the anti-establishment vote in Andhra Pradesh.

Dr. JP said that the re-alignment of political forces should take place on an agenda which focuses on eradication of corruption, decentralization of power, ensuring quality health care and education to all, providing employment opportunities, rendering justice to the farmer and restricting liquor consumption. There are sincere and honest people in all traditional parties. They should join hands to usher in new politics in the State, said Dr. JP.

Politics of the past has focused on short-term benefits to voters without lifting them out of poverty. Politics of the future should be based on the resolve to enhance incomes and opportunities through education and level playing field.

Dr. JP congratulated all the winners in the by-elections saying that the people's verdict in a democracy should be respected.

In reply to a question, Dr. JP said that those who cannot spend money in elections are doomed to lose. It does not however mean that those who spend more than others are certain to succeed. The ability to spend money has, however, become an entry barrier in the elections.

Lok Satta Party Working President D. V. V. S. Varma and General Secretary Katari Srinivasa Rao took part in the media conference.

Friday, June 15, 2012 - 18:46

Hike in paddy MSP an eye-wash: Lok Satta

The Lok Satta Party today termed the hike in the minimum support price of paddy as an eye-wash since it does not take into consideration the steep increase in costs of production.

The Union Government has raised the MSP for common paddy from Rs.1080 to Rs.1250 a quintal and for A grade paddy from Rs.1110 to Rs.1280 a quintal for the 2012-13 kharif season.

In a media statement, Mr. P. Bhaskara Rao, Convener, Federation of Independent Farmers' Associations and Lok Satta Party Secretary, recalled that the Swaminathan Commission had recommended that the MSP should be at least 50 per cent more than the cost of production. The cost of production has spiraled in the last few years because of the increase in costs of inputs like seeds, fertilizers and pesticides and laborers' wages.

The Union Government decision falls far short of the commission's recommendation.

Mr. Bhaskara Rao said that the State Government had failed ensure MSP for paddy during the crop year 2011-12. It hurt the farmer further by enforcing a ban on movement of paddy and rice outside the State in contravention of laws and Central guidelines. It was only after the Lok Satta Party defied the illegal ban by launching a movement that the farmers received the MSP.

The farmers' leader demanded that the entire country be treated as one zone and the farmer given freedom to move his produce wherever there is demand.

Instead of leaving procurement to millers, the Andhra Pradesh Government should enter the market like its counterparts in Punjab and Chattisgarh.

Thursday, June 14, 2012 - 19:14

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