Women should take lead in closing liquor shops: Reddy

Hyderabad, Oct 5 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today asked women folk to take the lead in closing down all the unauthorised liquor outlets, taking the help of police and excise personnel.

Talking to a delegation of Lok Satta women's wing, he said he would not deny existence of belt shops (unauthorised liquor outlets) in villages. Advising the delegation to mobilise women in large numbers at the villages to get belt shops closed down, he said he had already instructed police and excise officials to extend full cooperation to women.

In a statement here, party women's wing Convenor D Lakshmi, who led the delegation, claimed that the Chief Minister's admission to the existence of ''unauthorised liquor outlets'' was the first victory in the Lok Satta's battle against the liquor menace. It would not rest until it won the war for closure of belt shops and restriction on liquor consumption, she added.

The party submitted to the Chief Minister the details of such liquor shops in rural areas, including the one in Pulivendula, represented by Dr Reddy, and said closure of belt shops and restriction on liquor consumption were the greatest welfare steps he could take for women.

UNI