Hitting out at the TRS government in Telangana for allegedly not taking concrete steps to check the sale and consumption of liquor, state BJP today said it will start a massive agitation on the issue.
Speaking at the venue of the 24-hour fast undertaken by senior party leader S V Seshagiri Rao against the liquor menace, state BJP chief K Laxman found fault with the TRS government for fetching revenue to the tune of Rs 35,000 crore through liquor sale annually.
Laxman lauded Rao, a retired professor, for taking up the fast at an age of 80 and said the party will launch an agitation in the coming days if the government does not initiate dialogue to check the sale and consumption of liquor.
Alleging that bars and illegal liquor outlets have mushroomed in the state, he claimed liquor consumption is leading to fatal road accidents and addiction among college students and professionals.
"It is unfortunate that liquor is sold at subsidised rates during day time in the name of 'golden hours' and 'happy hours'," Laxman said.
"Though one of the stated objectives of excise department is prohibition, it never took any steps towards the lofty goal," he alleged.
Recalling that committees to campaign against evils of liquor used to be in place in undivided Andhra Pradesh, he said there has been no such move during the TRS rule.
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