Goud community protests in Hyderabad, seeks 25 per cent liquor shop quota

Members of the Goud community staged a protest at Gun Park, Hyderabad, demanding 25 per cent reservations in liquor shop allocations. Former Minister V Srinivas Goud accused the Congress of betraying its poll promises and sought reopening of toddy shops

Hyderabad: Members of various associations representing the Goud community staged a protest at the Telangana Martyrs’ Memorial in Gun Park, Hyderabad, on Friday, demanding 25 per cent reservations for their community in liquor shop allocations. They accused the Congress government of betraying them by not enhancing the quota from the existing 15 per cent, as promised in its election manifesto.

Addressing the gathering, former Minister V Srinivas Goud said the Congress had come to power on false promises made to farmers, women, students, unemployed youth and caste-based professions, but abandoned them after the elections.

---

He alleged that there was a conspiracy to shut down toddy shops in Hyderabad. Families of 1,145 toddy tappers who died in accidents also deserved the promised ex gratia of Rs. 10 lakh each, he said, demanding that toddy shops be reopened across Hyderabad.

He also urged the Congress to fulfil its electoral promise of renaming Jangaon district after Sardar Sarvai Papanna and to withdraw what he termed as illegal cases filed against Goud community members.

Comparing the Congress with the previous BRS government, Srinivas Goud said that while the BRS had allotted 15 per cent liquor shops to the Goud community, the Congress had promised 25 per cent. “But now the government wants to continue 15 per cent instead of implementing its word. We will not accept this betrayal,” he asserted.

Telangana Goud and Toddy Tappers Association coordination committee chairman Balagouni Balaraju Goud, Goud Kallu Geeta Professionals Association president Aili Venkanna Goud, Goud Aikya Sadhana Samiti president Ambala Narayana Goud, BC Samakhya president S Durgaiah Goud, Chikati Prabhakar Goud and several others also took part in the protest.