Press Releases Archive

The Lok Satta Party today faulted the Government for failing to anticipate the swine flue outbreak and taking preventive measures.

In a media statement, Lok Satta Party leaders Katari Srinivasa Rao and V. Laxman Balaji said the Government should have promoted awareness among vulnerable sections like pregnant women, diabetics, and asthmatics and undertaken the vaccination program.

Healthcare workers in Government hospitals are reluctant to handle swine flu cases while private hospitals, huge beneficiaries under the Arogyasri program, are turning away patients.

The Lok Satta leaders voiced concern over the outbreak of diseases like malaria and dengue especially in Scheduled Areas.

They wanted the Government to wake up at least now, take measures to prevent further spread of swine flu, strengthen health care facilities in the public sector, and make private hospitals partners in the war against communicable diseases. The Government should launch a publicity campaign to educate the people on preventive measures and allay their anxiety over treatment.

The Lok Satta Party today demanded that the Government scrap order No. 723 unconditionally and move towards a ban on public drinking altogether.

Talking to the media, Lok Satta Party General Secretary Katari Srinivasa Rao and Mahila Satta President N. Saroja Devi ridiculed the claims of Chief Minister K. Rosaiah and Minister Botsa Satyanarayana that the GO would not lead to a proliferation of bars.

The latest GO provides for permitting bars based on the 2001 census. With the decennial census now under way, which will see a spurt in urban population, bars will sprout like mushrooms in the coming excise year.

Demanding that the Government ban public drinking, the Lok Satta leaders pointed out that drinking is bad but public drinking is worse. Public drinking is resulting in permissive behavior, disturbing public order and tranquility, leading to accidents and crimes against women and children, promoting binge drinking and pauperization for want of restraint by the family.

The Lok Satta leaders said that the Government, which viewed liquor as one of its main sources of revenue, is even planning to permit sitting rooms attached to liquor outlets for a fee.

Unfortunately, leaders of the ‘sara‘ (sampradaya rajakeeya) parties, far from fighting the drink evil, have themselves become liquor vendors to promote their personal fortunes and party prospects in elections.

The Lok Satta would like all parties to transcend their party differences and join hands as the struggle against liquor is going to be long term and arduous.