Press Releases Archive

Lok Satta stepsup drive against Liquor shop auctions

The Lok Satta Party has demanded that the Andhra Pradesh Government halt liquor shop auctions scheduled for June 7 and save common people from certain ruin.

Leaders of the Lok Satta Katari Srinivasa Rao, V. Laxman Balaji, G. Raja Reddy and Prathap Reddy, Mahila Satta leaders N. Saroja Devi and S. Gajanani, Yuva Satta Leaders Dasari Ratnam and P. Sivaji submitted memoranda to this effect to Governor ESL Narasimhan, Chief Minister K. Rosaiah and Health Minister Danam Nagender on Tuesday.

The leaders pointed out that those liquor dealers, who obtain licenses after paying astronomical bid amounts, promote unauthorized outlets (belt shops) to recoup investments and make profits. As a result, consumption of liquor has been spurting year after year, wrecking the health and finances of millions of families year after year.

The leaders quoted a NIMHANS study to underline that while the Andhra Pradesh Government earns Rs.15000 crore revenue in the ensuring Excise Year on liquor sales, the people will be spending Rs.16900 crore on healthcare costs. Assuming that they spend Rs.20000 crore on liquor purchases, the total outgo people’s pockets works out to Rs.36900 crore in a single year.

“The Government policy is inhuman and immoral in that it swears by people’s welfare and implements schemes ranging from Rs.2 a kg rice supply to Indiramma housing but robs them of their money and health by promoting liquor sales to maximize its revenues.”

The Andhra Pradesh Government had better heed Union Health Ministry’s advice and entrust formulation of a policy on liquor consumption to the State Health Department. The Excise Department is concerned only with maximizing Government revenue and not promoting people’s health.

According to Lok Satta leaders, the Health Minister promised to raise the issue of liquor in the Cabinet meeting on June 5 and the Governor, action against belt shops.

The Lok Satta plans direct action if the Government does not respond positively.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010 - 21:15

Update on Fly Over Near Hitec MMTS

  • The fly over is on a rail way track, so the HMDA(Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority) had to take the permission from the railway department to go ahead with the construction of the flyover.
  • The railway department changed the design four times which literally dragged the issue very long.
  • Apart from this due to crunch in the funds the work was stopped for 6 months
  • After Dr. JP took charge in Kukatpally he spoke to these 2 departments to expedite the process.
  • Now the work is going on in full swing (day & night).
  • The part of the fly over apart from the stretch on railway track will be complete in next 3-4 months.
  • The part of the fly over on railway track will be complete in 3 months from then.

Dr. JP spoke to the HMDA commissioner regarding the flyover at Cyber Towers, though it does not come under Kukatpally, and requested them to complete that one also as soon as possible. They promised that the fly over will be done in 3 months.

Monday, May 31, 2010 - 15:41

Dr. JP welcomes TDP stand on Eradicating corruption

The Lok Satta Party today wholeheartedly welcomed the Telugu Desam Party demand that the State and Union Governments enact a law providing for attachment of ill-gotten wealth of politicians. (The TDP adopted a resolution to this effect at its Mahanadu under way in Hyderabad now).

Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan, now in the U. S., said in a statement that the TDP demand was heartening.

Dr. JP, who circulated a draft Bill to amend the Prevention of Corruption Act among all legislature parties, had already requested TDP President N. Chandrababu Naidu to take the initiative as Leader of the Opposition to convene an all-party meeting to consider the Bill and move it in the Assembly, if the Government did not come forward. Dr. JP pointed out that the Bill specifically envisages a key role to the Leader of the Opposition in all appointments of senior officials of the Anti Corruption Bureau.

Dr. JP appealed to Chief Minister K. Rosaiah to view corruption from a non-partisan angle and eliminate it by creating the requisite institutional mechanisms. In his connection, he recalled Mr. Rosaiah’s recent call to the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) to be stern in dealing with irregularities and corruption and advising it “to command people’s respect and strike terror in the hearts of the corrupt.”

Dr. JP hoped that Mr. Rosaiah would walk his talk by taking the initiative to amend the Prevention of Corruption Act.

If the Bill drafted by Dr. JP is adopted, MLAs and MLCs, elected members of panchayats, municipalities, and municipal corporations will be deemed as public servants and attract the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

As per the Bill, an accused public servant has to prove his innocence in cases of trap or disproportional assets. It provides for attachment and seizure of property during investigation and forfeiture of property when he or she is found guilty.

The Bill provides for establishment of a special court in every district, appointment of chief judicial magistrates as special public prosecutors and autonomy to the Anti Corruption Bureau, and effective powers to the Lok Ayukta. Special courts can on their own take cognizance of corruption involving public servants.

The amendment Bill says in its preamble, “Corruption is so deeply entrenched in the system that most people regard corruption as inevitable and any effort to fight it as futile. This cynicism is spreading so fast that it bodes ill for our democratic system itself.”

"In fact, there is no reason to believe that we, as a people, are more prone to corruption than any other culture or society. Wherever competition and choice have been institutionalized, and technology and transparency introduced, corruption has been reduced. What we need is political will, systemic improvement, and relentless and assured application of law" Dr.JP said.

Saturday, May 29, 2010 - 18:26

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