Amaravati: BJP Andhra Pradesh unit President Somu Veerraju, has said that the people of the state will get liquor at Rs 70 if the party receives one crore votes in the state Assembly Election of 2024.
While addressing a gathering, on Tuesday, the BJP president further asserted that if more revenue is left, then the party will make the availability of liquor at just Rupees 50.
The remark made by Veerraju in Vijayawada during the Praja Agraha Sabha organized by BJP on Tuesday has drawn criticism from various political parties and reputed political leaders.
Ramakrishna, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI) on Wednesday commented over the remarks by Veeraju and said that this is highly unfortunate.
''The ruling party wanted to harm people's health through such a step of reducing the price of liquor in the state to get more votes,'' he added.
Ramakrishna also said that the promises made by BJP to the state are not yet brought into effect. Instead of reducing the prices of essential commodities such as diesel and petrol, the party is reducing the cost of liquor that will lead to health issues. He regarded such a statement by BJP as ironic the way it is trying to receive votes in a condition of providing cheaper liquor rather than paying attention to reducing the prices of other important commodities.
He further said that the BJP is now wooing the boozers as earlier, it has tried to create communal clashes between different religions such as Muslims and Hindus and also between Christian and Hindus but failed to gain any success out of it.
Kommareddy Pattabi Ram, the Spokesperson of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) also raised his voice over the remarks by Veerraju, he said that the matter of liquor should not be turned into a poll promise, instead, the party should request the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to put a complete liquor ban in the state in view of fulfilling the promises.
Kommareddy Pattabi added that the Chief Minister has now turned back from the promise that he made earlier, while in opposition regarding the complete shutdown of liquor. The CM has raised the prices of liquor two times, three times and liquor is sold at unreasonably higher prices.
''The reduction of prices for buying liquor in return for the poll promise is not correct,'' he added.
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