Jagan Mohan Reddy says Andhra liquor scam front to protect Chandrababu Naidu

India Today

22-05-2025

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy launched a sharp attack on the Andhra Pradesh government, dismissing the liquor scam allegations against his government. He claimed the alleged liquor scam during his tenure was a deliberate political ploy by the TDP to divert attention from Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's ongoing legal troubles.Speaking to the media at a press conference on Thursday, Jagan accused Naidu of orchestrating a campaign to harass officials and weaken the cases against the latter, particularly the liquor scam, for which Jagan said Naidu was currently out on bail. 'It is a fact that, in an attempt to weaken the cases against him, to implement a similar kind of operation in this term, Chandrababu Naidu has targeted YSRCP,' he said.advertisementJagan highlighted that of the 20 distilleries in the state, 14 received licences during different periods under Naidu's tenure as Chief Minister, while the remaining six were granted by previous governments, none under YSRCP rule. 'YSRCP didn't even employ one of the 20 distilleries,' he said, questioning, 'Who is the real scamster? Isn't Chandrababu Naidu the real scamster?'
Jagan further alleged that during Naidu's 2014-19 government, liquor sales were rampant, driven by permit rooms and belt shops, with sales constituting 3.84 per cent of the market, compared to 3.32 per cent under YSRCP. He also pointed to revenue per case of Indian Made Liquor (IML) and beer, which stood at Rs 2,623 in 2018-19 but rose to Rs 5,649 in 2023-24 under his administration, signalling more transparency and efficiency.Jagan described the liquor market during the TDP's rule as controlled by a private mafia, dominated by five distilleries responsible for 69 per cent of liquor production and supply between 2015 and 2019. He asserted that the Competition Commission of India had cleared the YSRCP's liquor policy, confirming it did not violate competition laws or restrict market access.advertisementPointing to new, unfamiliar liquor brands such as Sumo, Kerala Malt, Shot whisky, Bangalore whisky, Bangalore brandy, Old Club brandy, and Good Friends emerging under the current regime, Jagan questioned whether these were evidence of a private mafia thriving once again.Jagan also accused Naidu of rigging liquor tenders to favour a syndicate of five distilleries, increasing production capacity, and waiving privilege fees, resulting in a loss of Rs 5 crore to the state exchequer. 'His involvement is on paper, which makes the case strong,' he said.He also criticised the current government's targeting of individuals like Dhanunjay Reddy, retired Revenue Divisional Officer Krishna Mohan, and businessman Balaji Govindappa, alleging these moves were politically motivated. 'Just because Govindappa is linked to Bharti Cements and Jagan, he has been targeted,' Jagan said, noting that Govindappa is a core-time director of Vicat, Europe's sixth-largest cement company.Jagan lamented the arrest of senior officials, including a Director General-level Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, describing it as unprecedented and vindictive. He accused the government of harassing low-level employees and unrelated persons to create an illusion of action.He concluded by announcing June 4 would be observed as 'Betrayal Day' to expose the government's failures. 'There is an undeclared emergency going on in the state,' he said, promising to release detailed data on arrests, atrocities, and corruption cases.Must Watch
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