AP's Excise Policy a big farce: Chandrababu

"When governments of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Delhi are themselves doing retail liquor business, why can't the AP government follow suit", the former Chief Minister questioned at a press conference here today.

The AP government yesterday came out with a new Excise Policy for 2012-13 in relation to disposal of liquor through retail shops, doing away with the controversial auction system and re-introducing the fixed license fee model based on population.

"The government clearly lacks sincerity. The new policy is only an eye-wash as it will encourage the liquor syndicates. It is seeking to suck poor people's blood", Chandrababu lashed out and demanded that the government immediately reconsider the policy.

Though the government was earning thousands of crores of Rupees in revenue from liquor, it was not spending that much on welfare programmes, the TDP chief claimed.

"The government is treating liquor only as a revenue-generator and ignoring its social responsibility. Women are agitated and we will take to the streets if the government does not reconsider the Excise Policy", Chandrababu warned.