YSR Congress party president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday claimed that the liquor policy introduced by his government between 2019 and 2024 was transparent and corruption-free.
Taking to X, Jagan lashed out at the present Chandrababu Naidu government for indulging in massive corruption through liquor syndicates and turning Andhra Pradesh into a hub for liquor mafias.
He vowed to lead a people's movement against these policies if they are not immediately corrected.
Jagan alleged that Naidu’s policies are driving a massive surge in illegal profits at the expense of the people.
He said Naidu is privatizing government-run liquor shops and handing them over to his allies, which has led to skyrocketing liquor prices well above the Maximum Retail Price (MRP).
He pointed out that, while 14 out of 20 distilleries were approved during Naidu's rule, none were sanctioned under YSRCP's governance, highlighting a stark contrast in policy approaches.
Jagan further stated that Naidu's ministers and MLAs are using coercive tactics to control the liquor trade and are collecting commissions to manipulate the market.
He stated that a syndicate has been formed to inflate prices and generate illegal profits, benefiting Naidu’s close associates.
He criticized Naidu’s liquor policy for lowering the quality of alcohol while making it more widely available across the state. YS Jagan stated that Naidu’s administration prioritised boosting sales and receiving bribes from distilleries over protecting public health.
The former chief minister pointed out that the previous YSRCP government had put strict rules on liquor sales, reduced the number of liquor shops, and closed down belt shops control the market.
He also highlighted the loss of 15,000 jobs in government liquor shops due to Naidu's privatization efforts, questioning the Chief Minister's claims of creating jobs and caring for the state’s welfare.
