BRS accuses Congress of targeting Goud community, encouraging liquor mafia

Former Minister V. Srinivas Goud accused the Congress-led Telangana government of harassing toddy shop owners from the Goud community under the pretext of fighting adulteration. He alleged that the real intent was to protect the liquor mafia and increase state revenue.

Hyderabad: Former Minister V Srinivas Goud launched a scathing attack on the Congress government, accusing it of harassing toddy compound owners belonging to the Goud community. He said in the name of measures to curb adulterated toddy, the government was harassing toddy tappers to benefit the liquor mafia in the State.

Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan, Srinivas Goud said the government was encouraging liquor mafia and using liquor revenue as a key source to fill its coffers. He stated that the proposal to increase liquor shop application fees from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh and to extend license validity from two to three years, was a backdoor attempt to favour private liquor companies.

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He warned that plans to open liquor outlets in every village would face resistance, especially from Backward Class castes that depend on toddy shops for livelihood. He also condemned the government’s failure to act on promises made to the Gowda (Goud) community in the Congress manifesto.

Former Council Chairman K Swamy Goud questioned why adulteration incidents have been rising only after the Congress came to power, when the same shops operated without issue under the previous BRS regime. He demanded a third-party probe and warned of statewide protests, if harassment of toddy shop owners continues.