OPS urges CM to shut liquor shops gradually
The Hindu
He slams move to increase liquor prices
AIADMK coordinator O. Panneerselvam on Wednesday called upon Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to close down Tasmac liquor shops gradually and implement the High Court’s order to wind up all bars attached to the retail liquor shops.
In a statement, he criticised the decision to increase the prices of various liquor products by ₹10-₹80 to mobilise an annual revenue of ₹40,000 crore. He said the move betrayed the “duplicity” of the ruling party which had, before capturing power, demanded total prohibition in 2016 and advocated the closing down of retail liquor shops in a phased manner last year.
Meanwhile, the sidelined former interim general secretary of the party, V.K. Sasikala, appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure that the medical and engineering students who returned from Ukraine in the light of the country’s conflict with Russia were accommodated in medical and engineering colleges in their home State for completing their studies.
The election authorities are gearing up for the counting of votes cast in the simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, scheduled to be held on June 4. The Collectors and Election Officers of Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli and Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) districts said on May 23 (Thursday) that their teams were ready for the counting of votes.
Responding to the prolonged water scarcity, the residents of the area took to the streets in protest on Wednesday. The protest, which drew attention to their plight, stopped only after the intervention of the police. It was not until 1.30 p.m. that a 4000-litre tanker was finally delivered by BWSSB, providing relief to the water-starved residents.