Tough times ahead for tipplers in temple town?

TIRUPATI: With raids on liquor shops and political bigwigs’ involvement in the syndicates coming to light recently, the demand for selling liquor at Maximum Retail Price (MRP) is gaining momentum.On the other hand, there is another rebellion causing quite a stir, the liquor prohibition movement, in the temple town of Tirupati. The demand to declare Tirupati as a ‘liquor-free zone’ is not new. Though people have been seeking a ban on booze in the town for several years, their demands had fallen on deaf years. Though temple town’s tipplers would not like the liquor prohibition movement to strengthen, it already ha.And, this time the demand seems to have thumped policy makers’ minds who are seriously mulling over ways to find a solution if remarks of excise minister Mopidevi Venkataramana on ‘strict action against erring traders’ are anything to go by.Following the High Court’s directions to ensure implementation of MRP on liquor sale, excise officials held discussions with the liquor merchants and asked them to follow HC orders.But, liquor merchants who are part of syndicates, are selling liquor at exorbitant prices and in turn, threatened to shut down their businesses if excise officials resort to raids on their establishments. After this, the latter had backed off. Against this backdrop, people in Tirupati are all for liquor ban. After receiving an assurance from minister Mopidevi Venkataramana that he would revise the liquor policy in the state, people are positive about the change.Interestingly, even political parties are okay with it imposing liquor-ban.If the government is concerned about protecting the sanctity of the famous pilgrim town, it should declare the town as a ‘liquor-free’ and ‘no meat’ zone by respecting people’s opinion, according to BJP national committee member K Santha Reddy.