Women stage protest, want liquor sale to stop

Vijayawada: Women associations stage protest at Dharma chowk in the city demanding the government close all wine shops, on Wednesday. The women at the protest followed social distancing guidelines.
The activists alleged that the government was trying to fill the treasury with the sale of liquor, which is nothing but cheating the poor.
National Federation for India Woman (NFIW) state general secretary P Durga Bhavani said, “Jaganmohan Reddy and his government is playing with the lives of poor.Jagan, who promised a complete ban on liquor, hiked the price drastically. He discontinued existing brands and introduced new brands and we have many apprehensions about their quality. The lockdown is the best chance for the state government to completely ban the sale of liquor, but the government itself opened the doors for the sake of revenue.”
Progressive Organisation for Woman (POW) state leader K Durga said that the poor lived peacefully during lockdown though they suffered financially. “Alcohol is affecting the lives of the poor. It is the main cause for the increase in violence against the woman. The government should immediately close liquor shops and give financial assistance of Rs 5,000 to all below poverty line families across the state,” Durga said. tnn